Ottawa hears the O.F.A.H. on saving the Ruger Mini 14
Angler & Hunter Hotline - June 2005

The O.F.A.H. is not letting the Federal government out of its sights, particularly given their recent "out of the blue" intention to outlaw certain makes of firearms.

This past winter, the O.F.A.H. leapt to the defense of gun owners after learning that Justice Minister Irwin Cotler issued a letter revealing plans to prohibit the Ruger Mini-14.

The O.F.A.H. went knocking on the doors of Parliament Hill demanding that federal politicians stop targeting Canada's law-abiding gun owners. The Federation's tenacious, face-to-face advocacy approach inspired a number of politicians, including Liberal members, to condemn the government's impending gun ban.

"I contacted the Office of the Prime Minister and the Office of the Minister of Justice to express my unreserved trepidation with respect to this abysmal declaration," wrote M.P. Paul Steckle in a letter to the O.F.A.H.

Meanwhile, the Ottawa Citizen reported that Minister Cotler had "made a mistake," and that there has been no decision to ban the Ruger Mini 14, a popular hunting and target shooting rifle.

In his recent keynote address to the O.F.A.H., Conservation Party Leader Stephen Harper, said the government's interest in wiping out the Ruger Mini 14 came out of the blue. "This is a government that bans guns by reflex," said Mr. Harper. "After considerable opposition from gun owners and members of our party, the Minister said that his announcement was a mistake -- that there would be no ban."

Nevertheless, the O.F.A.H. is watching closely for more government gun ban schemes and will continue to be vigilant in representing firearms' owners.