CCFR ‘Integrity March’ Is Largest Gun-Rights Rally in a Generation
TheGunBlog.ca — The Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights led its supporters today in the country’s largest gun-rights rally in a generation.
It was part of the mounting opposition to the governing Liberal Party’s attacks against federally licensed firearm users.
800 – 5,000 Participants
More than 5,000 CCFR fans from across Canada joined the association’s “Integrity March” on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, CCFR said on Twitter.
The Parliamentary Protective Service estimated 800 people, The Canadian Press said in a report shared by Global News.
Political Rally
The march was Canada’s biggest political rally by firearm users since the Fed-Up II Rally of 1998 drew roughly 30,000 people to the capital.
Today, as then, attendees gathered to oppose Liberal measures that criminalize honest men and women and confiscate their guns under the pretense of “public safety.”
‘Demand Integrity’
“5000+ Canadians descended on Ottawa to demand integrity from the Liberal government,” the Ottawa-based CCFR said on Twitter. “Their ineffective and expensive gun ban is NOT a public safety measure.”
Bagpipers Lead March
Several shooting clubs and gun shops promoted the CCFR rally. Many of the largest associations of hunters, sport shooters and the firearm industry didn’t.
Starting at 1 p.m. on the lawn in front of the parliament buildings, bagpipers led marchers carrying flags and signs on a walk down Wellington Street and Sparks Street. The event ended after about 45 minutes.
Many participants wore face masks to prevent Covid-19 contagion.
TACCOM
CCFR’s Integrity March was the biggest gathering of Canadian gun users since the Tactical & Competitive Shooting Sports Show a year ago.
TACCOM, as the Toronto-area gun expo is known, united almost 20,000 people over three days.
Context & Background
Liberal Crackdown
In the middle of the day on May 1 after working in secret with the federal police, the Liberals suddenly made it a crime to own many of Canada’s most-popular rifles and shotguns.
Their crackdown specifically targeted Canada’s 2.2 million federally licensed firearm users, including hunters, farmers, ranchers, plinkers, competitors and firearm collectors.
Criminalize and Confiscate
The Liberals and federal police are threatening them with jail if they buy, sell, move, or use any of their newly blacklisted guns.
Owners also risk prison unless police confiscate their gear by 30 April 2022.
The CCFR is leading one of six challenges in Federal Court to stop the attack.
More Canadian Than Hockey
Hunting and shooting are at the heart of Canadian culture, heritage and the economy in one of the most-strictly regulated mass markets.
- More adults have a federal firearm licence than play hockey.
- Millions more unlicensed family and friends hunt and shoot responsibly under the control of permit holders.
- The firearm industry employs almost 50,000 people.
- Hunters and sport shooters contribute billions of dollars to the national economy each year.
- The only people who are allowed to buy, sell or own firearms are federally licensed individuals and businesses who are screened daily by the federal police.
- Source: Canada Gun Facts & Stats
‘Untapped Opportunity’ Quote From 2018
Marchers Share Impressions
Related