Watch above: The prime minister says he supports rural area residents protecting themselves and their properties with guns. Wendy Winiewski talks to a Saskatchewan gun owner who applauds the PM’s stance in the wake of opposition.
SASKATOON – Statements made by Stephen Harper at a convention last week in Saskatoon about the use of guns are ricocheting across Canada. On March 12, while speaking to the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), Harper told approximately 2,000 delegates: “It’s a tool that many people use in their lives, obviously in their livelihoods. My wife is from a rural area – gun ownership wasn’t just for the farm it’s also for a certain level of security when you’re away from police, immediate police assistance.”
It’s that statement that had NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair speaking out Tuesday at an appearance in Montreal, saying he was “quite astonished” to hear the prime minister tell people to use their own weapons to protect themselves.
“Harper conducted his last campaign on the firearms registry and he’s trying to stir up those passions again,” said Mulcair.
READ MORE: NDP leader shoots down Harper’s comments about people who arm themselves
Saskatchewan’s Josh Morrow feels the NDP has taken Harper’s statements out of context. He is a cattle farmer and an environmental inspector who works in Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan.
Morrow feels his job descriptions often leave him vulnerable. One incident while completing an environmental assessment last year in Alberta brought Morrow face-to-face with a bear.
“He stood up which was pretty intimidating and I was alone and I actually had to put that bear down,” said Morrow, who is thankful he’s been authorized to carry a gun.
READ MORE: Applications to carry handguns skyrocket in B.C., Alberta
The process took eight months of paperwork and several interviews with the chief firearms office in Alberta. He has authorization to carry his gun in all three western provinces.
“I feel like I’m discriminated against right? I mean I do have one of these permits. I am a firearms owner and by no means do I have any crazy bone in my body.”
The first year of authorization is probation. After that, Morrow has to renew his authorization every two years and complete the paperwork, criminal record check and interview with the office.
He agrees with the checks and balances.
“It’s completely irrational to think that the people that go through this effort to get these kind of permits are not qualified, or not safe, or not legal,” said Morrow, who’s regretful the NDP is disputing Harper’s comments.
He hopes Canadian’s will use him an example of someone who possesses a gun and respect his position and reason, after all, Morrow believes his authorization may have saved his life.
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