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Saskatchewan premier says province will appoint its own chief firearms officer

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Saskatchewan premier says province will appoint its own chief firearms officer
WATCH: "We are going to take control of what we can control.": Premier Scott Moe announced Wednesday the province's plans to internally appoint a Chief Firearms Officer for Saskatchewan. The position was previously appointed federally. Connor O'Donovan reports – Mar 11, 2020

Saskatchewan is choosing to appoint its own chief firearms officer, Premier Scott Moe announced on Wednesday.

Under the federal Firearms Act, Saskatchewan has the right to hire within. Currently, a federal employee is filling that role.

Moe addressed the issue at the annual Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) convention.

He said the decision was made in large part due to the federal government’s indication in January that it would be making changes to firearm legislation.

“[It’s about] understanding the dynamics of firearm ownership here in the province by hunters and farmers and many in our rural communities,” Moe said.
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“As we proceed down a path of exerting our provincial autonomy, we feel it’s important that the chief firearms officer is provincially appointed [and] someone who understands the interpretation of what is a federal law… and someone in the province who is ensuring that interpretation is in the best interest of the people in this province.”

Moe said he is unsure what changes are coming federally regarding firearm legislation, but wanted to take some sort of action.

“What we are going to do is take control of the things we can control. Appointing a firearms officer, most certainly, is one of those things this province has the opportunity to do,” Moe said.

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“Other provinces have exercised that opportunity; we’re going to do just the same.”

In November, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said the province would consider appointing its own chief firearms officer.

A chief firearms officer deals with issues surrounding licences and authorizations.

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