PETERBOROUGH — The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) has released a 68-page report, authored by the organization’s Director of Programs and Policy, Matt DeMille, titled What Firearms are Reasonable and Proportionate for Hunting in Canada: An examination of previously non-restricted firearms prohibited under SOR/2020-96.
The report looks at the relationship between hunting and firearms and contains specific analysis of firearms prohibited by order in council (OIC) on May 1, 2020. The group of firearms analyzed in the report were identified by Canadian firearms owners as being used for hunting prior to being prohibited.
DeMille authored this report after the OFAH was approached to offer expert opinion on the topic by several applicants who sought legal action against the Government of Canada related to these OIC prohibitions. The report was included as an exhibit in three separate affidavits sworn by DeMille and filed with the courts earlier this month.
“This presented a great opportunity to help inform the court’s understanding of the hunting use of firearms in Canada,” says DeMille. “The report is intended to help answer questions related to defining what a ‘hunting firearm’ is and how firearms are used for hunting to ultimately conclude that there are dozens of OIC-prohibited firearms examined that are reasonable and proportionate for hunting in Canada.”
Although the primary objective of the report is to inform the court, the OFAH believes that there is broader value and appeal with it, which is why it is being released publicly.
“The average person won’t dig through court records, so it is important to share it more broadly so that it can help to inform broader public discourse,” adds DeMille.
The OFAH has a long history and track record of evidence-based, objective, and non-partisan involvement on firearms policy, and we believe that the Federation needs to continue to play an important role in informing the development and maintenance of sound firearms legislation, regulations, and policy.
“We are well positioned to offer independent and evidence-based technical insight into a topic that is not well defined or understood,” explains OFAH Executive Director, Angelo Lombardo, a gun enthusiast and former firearms instructor. “Matt’s research and analysis experience, as well as his personal and professional knowledge and experience with firearms, made him an ideal candidate to take this initiative on.”
“Whether we admit it or not, hunters and non-hunters alike, we all have biases about what makes something a hunting firearm. This report brings everything together and it really put things into perspective for me,” Lombardo adds.
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With over 100,000 members, subscribers and supporters, and 740 member clubs, the OFAH is the province’s largest non-profit, fish and wildlife conservation-based organization and the VOICE of anglers and hunters. For more information, visit us online at www.ofah.org, follow us on Twitter @ofah and find us on Facebook and Instagram @theofah.
The OFAH is also the lead organization for the National Fishing and Hunting Collaborative, which is a group of is a group of non-partisan, non-profit, fishing and hunting organizations that work collaboratively to provide national leadership on important conservation issues and a voice for more than 375,000 Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast.
CONTACT:
Shawn Cayley, OFAH Director of Communications — 705-760-5537 or shawn_cayley@ofah.org
Matt DeMille, OFAH Director of Policy and Programs — matt_demille@ofah.org
IMPORTANT LINKS
OFAH Insider:OFAH releases public version of firearms report filed with the Federal Court
OFAH Insider:What is a hunting firearm? A personal look from OFAH Director of Policy and Programs, Matt DeMille.