O.F.A.H. ACTIONS AGAINST FEDERAL GUN REGISTRY

The following list is a summary (not all inclusive) that outlines some of the actions the O.F.A.H. has undertaken in the effort to rescind Bill C-68 and stop other anti-firearms related legislation. We actively continue to impact Canadian gun legislation to make it "sensible," addressing criminal misuse while protecting the rights and privileges of our members.

• Radio campaigns in Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, and London opposing C-68 (a cost of over $100,000);
• Full-page ads in MacLean's magazine and other consumer magazines opposing the bill;
• Over $30,000 worth of advertising in major market newspapers opposing the bill;
• Ads in the Hill Times (media for M.P.'s, Senators, and senior policy makers);
• Television features about the dangers and costs of the bill;
• Produced more postcards than any other group in Canada opposing the bill;
• Generated thousands of names on petitions opposing the bill to the House of Commons;
• Were successful in lobbying the Ontario government to legally challenge the bill;
• Helped fund the Alberta court challenge;
• Provided legal advice to the Alberta Fish and Game Association for their court case;
• Lobbied, and continue to lobby, individual M.P.'s and individual Senators;
• Presentations made to both House of Commons and Senate Justice Committees;
• Package and presentation made to the Ministry of Health Conference "Violence as a Public Health Issue;"
• Participated in hundreds of media interviews and news releases fighting the bill;
• Participated in urban phone-in radio shows to educate the public to the dangers of this legislation;
• Played a lead role in the National Coalition of Provincial and Territorial Wildlife Federations, which also fought the legislation;
• Sent C-68 information directly to O.F.A.H. members, hunter education instructors, and retailers, to encourage them to fight the bill;
• Principle participants in several public rallies, including Fed Up I and Fed Up II;
• Produced and distributed over 200,000 "election" bumper stickers;
• Produced tens of thousands "election" lawn signs;
• Encouraged O.F.A.H. member clubs and O.F.A.H. zones to run all-candidates nights;
• Produced and distributed various information brochures, such as "Bringing You More Facts About Bill C-68," and "Bill C-68 Canada's New Firearms Act;"
• Continue to produce and post information on our web site and other media sources, including Angler and Hunter Hotline, Call of the Loon, and Hunter Education News;
• Communications being sent to the legal counsel for the Justice Department;
• Currently working on further communications with the Chiefs of Police;
• Met with the Auditor General prior to the release of her December 2002 report;

• Met with the federal Solicitor General and urged him to scrape the registry;
• Developed a firearms motion against the registry which has been passed by 204 municipalities to date;
• Worked with Opposition parties to question the government;
• Filed Freedom of Information requests with the Justice Minister;
• Met with federal Solicitor General to review reasons for canceling registry;
• Met with Canadian Police Association seeking their support;
• Met with Peter MacKay, Deputy Federal Conservative Leader;
• Met with staff from Paul Martin's office urging them to scrap the registry;
• January 2004, met with Prime Minister for two hours to emphasize need to scrap registry;
• Repeated conversations with police unions across Canada – worked with Calgary Police Association to get motion supporting the scrapping of the registry on the floor of Canadian Professional Police Association national meeting;
• Arranged for Calgary Police Association, who oppose registry, to meet with federal Minister charged with reviewing the registry;
• O.F.A.H. met with federal Minister reviewing the registry 14 times between January and May 2004;
• Minister reviewing the registry invited to speak at O.F.A.H. 2004 conference;
• O.F.A.H. developed and made available to clubs across Ontario lawn signs and bumper stickers against Bill C-68 for use during 2004 federal election;
• Press release March 14, 2005 after Mountie's killed in Alberta calling for scrapping of the registry;
• Filing Requests for Information against federal government, various departments, to determine how much money is being funneled towards anti-gun groups;
• Press Releases on August 16th and 17th, 2005;
• March 2006, O.F.A.H. engages in media campaign blowing the whistle on failures in the firearms registry by demonstrating conclusively that the system can be hacked;
• In total, O.F.A.H. issued 8 press releases on firearms in 2005; 8 in 2006, 5 in 2007 and 1 thus far in 2008;
• In total, O.F.A.H. included 7 articles in Hotline in 2005; 13 in 2006 and 6 in 2007 on firearms;
• In 2006, the O.F.A.H. was appointed to a seat on the Canadian Firearms Advisory Committee by federal Minister of Public Safety Stockwell Day, which they continue to hold;
• In 2007, the O.F.A.H. helped convince the federal government to suspend the hated U.N. gun marking proposal, resulting in a two year delay in the implementation of the program, with the likelihood that it will be permanently abolished;
• Fall 2007, O.F.A.H. articles and press release in opposition to inspection of older firearms owners in City of Toronto;
• Through our membership on the C.F.A.C., the O.F.A.H. continues to push for a registry of prohibited offenders, instead of a registry of legal firearms owners and is successful in working with other members of the Committee in convincing the government to change the regulations to allow expired POL owners to renew their POLs instead of having to qualify for PALs which many don't want or need (March 2008) – This will benefit over 108,000 firearms owners with expired POLs across the country;
• March 2008 conference call with CFO and staff over lack of communications with firearms community regarding inspections, ranges, actions of staff, etc. – O.F.A.H. gets agreement from CFO for quarterly meetings with O.F.A.H., CSSA and CSAAA, two hosted by CFO, two by O.F.A.H.;
• April 26, 2008 meeting of CFO and representatives from 270 ranges/gun clubs in Barrie – O.F.A.H. sending three staff;
• 2008 – appearance before the City of Toronto Planning Committee on the proposed banning of shooting ranges and clubs from public land.
• Press releases and campaigns in support of Bills C21 and C24.
• Press releases and campaigns in support of Bills C301 and S5.
• Current online national petition with partners and affiliates to scrap the long gun registry.
• Press release and campaign in support of Bill C-391, newest bill to scrap long gun registry.

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