*resolved* Our firearms too scary for Toronto Sportsman Show

Status
Not open for further replies.
It's not got the same timbre as some of yours (because sometimes, a pat on the back, though only a few vertebrae removed from a kick in the pants, is miles ahead in results!) but FWIW, here's what I sent:


Hi, Mitch,

I read a thread on Canadian Gun Nutz that your organization had initially denied Tactical Imports a place at the upcoming show on the basis of their firearms not meeting some notion of "what a hunting rifle looks like" (presumably wood and blued, like my trusty Model 70 in 30-06), and that you have since reconsidered your position. I'm sure that your decision was influenced by the volume of "blunt" emails you received.

Relax, this isn't one of those emails... in fact, I wanted to first commend you on your decision, and to send you the article attached, which ran in North American Hunter magazine a while ago.

As you know, just two days ago, our government voted to scrap the wasteful and ineffective Long Gun Registry. Hopefully, this is the first step towards a return to some common-sense firearms laws in this great country of ours. Plus, this can be nothing but good news for the hunting industry and gun manufacturers, exhibitors you rely on to fill the aisles of your show... alongside the airsoft guns I understand you've already been chided for.

The various anti-gun organizations have done more than push for the creation of new criminal laws regarding firearms, they have succeeded in "de-normalizing" them, and their owners. In my opinion, one of the ways to counter this trend is not to hide advances in firearms technology from the public eye. It's like the auto show: everybody knows that it's illegal to drive 200KMH on the 401, but that doesn't stop Ferrari from showing their cars in Toronto... so why shouldn't Remington, Springfield, Ruger or Colt show their most recent creations? I respectfully submit that your show owes it to the industry to help dispel the anti-gun attitudes out there.

Also, anybody attending your show and going to the firearms booths is already interested in guns, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be offended by seeing the new AR-platform rifles.

Anyway, I know this is a US article, but it does reinforce the suitability of these firearms as hunting tools: only in Canada have we allowed legislation to prevent us from doing so, for now ;)

Cheers, and have a great show!

(text of article I posted above follows)

droid1963
Click to expand...
 
SKYNET said:
As a matter of fact I'm not kidding. Why poke the bee hive? We gun folk are quietly making progress. Why go into a lefty dominated market, all Nasty Black Guns a Blazing. You honestly don't think some Liberal fisherman or hiker women's rights enthusiast isn't going to see these weapons and get their panties in a not?

Maybe it's just me. I like to be subtle. Maybe your a " In Your Face Anti's" kind of person. I get it. Personally I would rather talk quietly and own a black gun.

I mean no offense those of you who are banding together to help TI flaunt there wears. Good on you. I simple and perhaps selfishly, do not agree.
Click to expand...

I can respect your opinion, and the respectful way you delivered it... however, it is a fishing/hunting show we're talking about, not the Outdoor Canada/Cottage Life show, so I'm not particularly concerned about the presence of the "Birkenstock and Granola" crowd.

My $0.02.

(And no, I'm not an "in your face" guy, I'm actually pretty quiet and reserved, -okay, not always, I do have a couple of hot buttons- preferring to let facts and reason speak.)
 
SKYNET said:
As a matter of fact I'm not kidding. Why poke the bee hive? We gun folk are quietly making progress. Why go into a lefty dominated market, all Nasty Black Guns a Blazing. You honestly don't think some Liberal fisherman or hiker women's rights enthusiast isn't going to see these weapons and get their panties in a not?

Maybe it's just me. I like to be subtle. Maybe your a " In Your Face Anti's" kind of person. I get it. Personally I would rather talk quietly and own a black gun.

I mean no offense those of you who are banding together to help TI flaunt there wears. Good on you. I simple and perhaps selfishly, do not agree.
Click to expand...

With all due respect, you could not be more wrong. Displaying black guns will no doubt get the comment " Why does anyone need to hunt with that type of gun? multiple times. Hopefully, the good people at TI will be able to respectfully be able to answer. Thus creating a teaching moment.

Without them there, fudds and anti will continue in their beliefs that these evil black guns don't belong in the woods.

Black gun owners are not doing anything wrong, and should not have to hide in the shadows.
 
I had to send another email. Here it is:

Dear Mitch,

I am glad to hear that you have allowed Tactical imports into your show. It is a great opportunity to open up some eyes, educate, and take away some fears. We can all agree that living in fear is no way to live.

However, I am disappointed to hear that you will not allow restricteds at your show. That is your choice. By now you must have figured out that there are a network of us communicating nationally fighting on behalf of all shooting sports. To our success, former Ajax MP Mark Holland is not in Ottawa, and we have motivated others to hear our voices regarding the LGR.

This week alone, there is an online campaigne to vote Garry Breitkreuz in as ichannel's #faqmp. Here is a link, and look at his lead. http://faqmp.ichannel.ca/

Notice Charlie Angus's votes. Btw, Charlie Angus will be the next MP that we do not want to see in Ottawa, and will work hard to make that happen.

In any case, you know that there will be others like me who will boycott and not attend your show this year. By next year, I will be pushing the boycott to expand to exhibitors & other attendees. If you don't respect what the exibitors are selling, then certainly you don't respect the people that buy them.

Of course I/we may not have the power to ask exhibitors not to attend. But if the grass roots campaigne expands for next years show, then why would exhibitors want to pay for floorspace at an empty show?

If I am going to attend a sportmans show, then all shooting sports should be welcome, including booths with restricteds long and handguns. This is ahead of the Toronto Star subscription booth.

Rgds,
 
FYI: CSSA has now become involved with this issue. More later.

EDIT: RESOLVED, this just in from the Toronto Sportsmans Show.

Hi Tony,

We have reviewed the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show position on firearms this morning and have adopted the following:

Exhibitors participating in the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show are permitted to display firearms approved by the CFO for legal sale in Canada.
Exhibitors must follow display regulations as prescribed by the CFO and receive CFO approval for same.

I believe this alleviates any of your concerns.
 
Last edited:
CILA-1 said:
FYI: CSSA has now become involved with this issue. More later.

EDIT: RESOLVED, this just in from the Toronto Sportsmans Show.

Hi Tony,

We have reviewed the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show position on firearms this morning and have adopted the following:

Exhibitors participating in the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show are permitted to display firearms approved by the CFO for legal sale in Canada.
Exhibitors must follow display regulations as prescribed by the CFO and receive CFO approval for same.

I believe this alleviates any of your concerns.
Click to expand...

Good job CSSA!!!
 
Nice work Tony.

So, the question now is, how do we get all our sponsers to get a booth at the Toronto Sportsmens Show and show off all the cool product we just love around here? What better way to take back the show then to get everyone out there with the guns that will get people excited?
 
IMagius said:
Yup ... I'd love to send this guy a piece of my mind as well :(

Pretty fracking sad when even the guys running the hunting shows seem to be Anti's :(

And just because they have made this decision ... I am no planning on NOT attending the show. F'em.

A full wood ENfield, that great grampa used to kill germans would be acceptable to them, but a plastic covered gun with no history, better sights & mechanics isn't :Epic Face Palm:
Click to expand...

Well put! They might want to have a look at what Americans are hunting with these days. Their Sportsman's shows all have AR type hunting platforms. The hunting world has changed and these people obviously have not kept up (along with our lawmakers :redface:).
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom