‘Farmer’s With Firearms’ Facebook group getting traction in rural Saskatchewan

A controversial Facebook group based in rural Saskatchewan is picking up speed, generating nearly 400 “likes” since its creation on Sept. 22.

“Farmer’s With Firearms” describes itself as a group that “will fight if need be” while protecting their belongings.

It goes on to say that “if the RCMP response times are delayed in anyway we will take matters into our own hands.”

READ MORE: RCMP urges Sask. farmers to not take matters into own hands over property crimes

It’s exactly the opposite of warnings issued by law enforcement last Wednesday advising against vigilante action after farmers circulated pictures of firearms kept in their vehicles to ward off property crime.

Criminal defence attorney Kevin Hill declined to speak specifically about the Facebook group but did say any use of force can lead to consequences.

“It really depends on the nature of the threat, how significant the threat is and how significant the use of force required to repeal the threat is,” Hill said.

“It is on a case by case basis, there’s no way of hypothetically laying out things that are going to be regarded right or wrong ahead of time – that applies to any use of force not specially firearms.”

READ MORE: Saskatoon RCMP charge 2 people with property theft crimes

Hill went onto say there is a long history in Saskatchewan of responsible firearm use and ownership in rural areas.

He says the majority of people utilizing those firearms are law abiding citizens, which he expects to continue.

Meaghan Craig contributed to this story