National Firearms Association
The National Firearms Association (NFA; French: Association Nationale des Armes à Feu) is a non-profit association based across Canada. Its main goals are the repeal and replacement of the Firearms Act (Bill C-68), which was introduced into Canadian Parliament in 1995 (Now called "Chapter 39 of the 1995 Statutes of Canada"), the promotion of marksmanship and firearm safety and the protection of the right to hunt, and self-defence and property rights. The NFA was faced with a hostile takeover attempt in 2015. Several lawsuits ensued, with the NFA surviving the takeover attempt and winning the court cases.
Motto | Canada's Most Effective Firearms Association |
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Formation | 1978 |
Headquarters | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
Official language | English |
Leader | Sheldon Clare (President)[1] |
Key people | David A. Tomlinson (Founder) Major R.A. Laycock. Bill Jones |
Website | www.NFA.ca |
Controversy
The NFA was criticized for its media release after the occurrence of a shooting spree that left three RCMP officers dead and two others wounded in Moncton, New Brunswick of June 5, 2014.[2][3] Their statement read, "Incidents like these demonstrate...that none of Canada's firearms control efforts over the past 50 years have had any effect on preventing violence, or otherwise stopping bad people from carrying out their evil deeds... The excessive rules in place do not in any way increase public safety, but merely contribute to an expensive and unnecessary regime which harms only those of lawful intent."[4] The release was perceived by some to be insensitive and politically motivated. The NFA stood by their statement claiming that they were responding to the calls for tighter gun control that people on social media and in government were making.[3]
In late March 2015 the NFA pulled out of a committee looking at the Canadian government's proposed anti-terrorism legislation Bill C-51.[5]
References
- Clare, Sheldon. "President's Message". National Firearms Association: Official Website. National Firearms Association. Archived from the original on 10 September 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
- 1. Moncton shootings: National Firearms Association response 'premature' http://news.ca.msn.com/top-stories/moncton-shootings-national-firearms-association-response-premature Archived 2014-06-10 at the Wayback Machine
- QMI Agency (June 7, 2014). "National Firearms Association stands by controversial statement on Moncton shootings". Peace River Record Gazette.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
- The National Firearms Association (June 5, 2014). "CANADA'S NATIONAL FIREARMS ASSOCIATION MEDIA RELEASE - June 5, 2014". Retrieved 8 June 2014.
- Payton, Laura (Mar 23, 2015). "Bill C-51 hearings: National Firearms Association pulls out: National Firearms Association was to appear along with internet advocacy group Open Media". CBC News.