As Ontario and the rest of the country faces the ever-growing novel coronavirus pandemic, there has been a corresponding spike in the number of firearms and ammunitions being sold to a worried public.
Alison de Groot, managing director of Canada Sporting Arms and Ammunition Association, acknowledged the sale of hunting ammunition and hunting rifles are surging as well as a corresponding increase in the association’s rural stores of sales of small-calibre (. 22) ammunition.
She said the smaller calibre ammunition is used for target shooting, especially by youths in rural areas who are looking for activities to do with schools closed.
The Gunblog.ca reported on March 17 that the Bullseye Super Store in London, Ont., has seen a very high order volume in ammunition and firearms, causing slower responses by the company and delayed pickup orders.
Al Flaherty’s Outdoor Store in Toronto stated in a message on its website that it has closed the store to the public and orders must be submitted through the website.
“The situation has resulted in a rush of clients coming to our store,” the message stated.
Target Sports Canada, a popular indoor shooting facility located in Gormley, states on its website that it has had “high volume of customers on weekends and holidays” using its facilities.
Locally, the Silverdale Gun Club, located in St. Ann’s, near Smithville, issued a notice on its website limiting the number of people to its facility at 40, while reducing its hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Canadian Tire and Bass Pro Shops did not response to a request for comment.
De Groot said one reason for the increase in ammunition and firearms sales is because of the potential impact of the border slowdown between Canada and the United States. She said since there are few manufacturers left in Canada, about 90 per cent of hunting rifles and ammunition are imported, predominately from the United States.
“Our customers are concerned that the Canada market won’t be resupplied before the fall hunting season,” she said.
De Groot said, for instance, outfitters have had a difficult time resupplying fishing product since travel connections have been closed to China because of the virus.
“Now with the U.S.-Canada border shut down, our store customers fear the same result with respect to firearms and ammunition,” she said.
De Groot said the association is cautioning customers that the supply chain “is intact and there are no anticipated product shortages.
“For our regular clients this is very similar to buying extra toilet paper,” she said.
Gun advocates and business owners have also indicated the coronavirus pandemic, coupled with the downturn in the economy and panic buying in grocery stores, is driving more people to inquire about how to obtain a gun licence.
Purchasing a firearm requires getting a possession and acquisition licence, which can takes months because of the many requirements, said de Groot.
These include passing an in-person firearms safety course and making an application to the Canadian Firearms Centre. Following these steps, a background investigation is carried out by the RCMP and/or a provincial chief firearms office.
But because of the slowdown in processing of applications caused by the pandemic — and the complete shutdown of group classes by the province — "it is next to impossible for anyone to acquire a new (licence) in the coming months," she said.
The licence is a requirement in Canada to possess a firearm, including a long gun, or to buy a firearm or ammunition. Applicants must be 18 or older but the licence doesn’t require a citizenship or residency documents.
“So Canadians can’t stock up on firearms and ammunition,” said de Groot.
As Ontario and the rest of the country faces the ever-growing novel coronavirus pandemic, there has been a corresponding spike in the number of firearms and ammunitions being sold to a worried public.
Alison de Groot, managing director of Canada Sporting Arms and Ammunition Association, acknowledged the sale of hunting ammunition and hunting rifles are surging as well as a corresponding increase in the association’s rural stores of sales of small-calibre (. 22) ammunition.
She said the smaller calibre ammunition is used for target shooting, especially by youths in rural areas who are looking for activities to do with schools closed.
The Gunblog.ca reported on March 17 that the Bullseye Super Store in London, Ont., has seen a very high order volume in ammunition and firearms, causing slower responses by the company and delayed pickup orders.
Al Flaherty’s Outdoor Store in Toronto stated in a message on its website that it has closed the store to the public and orders must be submitted through the website.
“The situation has resulted in a rush of clients coming to our store,” the message stated.
Target Sports Canada, a popular indoor shooting facility located in Gormley, states on its website that it has had “high volume of customers on weekends and holidays” using its facilities.
Locally, the Silverdale Gun Club, located in St. Ann’s, near Smithville, issued a notice on its website limiting the number of people to its facility at 40, while reducing its hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Canadian Tire and Bass Pro Shops did not response to a request for comment.
De Groot said one reason for the increase in ammunition and firearms sales is because of the potential impact of the border slowdown between Canada and the United States. She said since there are few manufacturers left in Canada, about 90 per cent of hunting rifles and ammunition are imported, predominately from the United States.
“Our customers are concerned that the Canada market won’t be resupplied before the fall hunting season,” she said.
De Groot said, for instance, outfitters have had a difficult time resupplying fishing product since travel connections have been closed to China because of the virus.
“Now with the U.S.-Canada border shut down, our store customers fear the same result with respect to firearms and ammunition,” she said.
De Groot said the association is cautioning customers that the supply chain “is intact and there are no anticipated product shortages.
“For our regular clients this is very similar to buying extra toilet paper,” she said.
Gun advocates and business owners have also indicated the coronavirus pandemic, coupled with the downturn in the economy and panic buying in grocery stores, is driving more people to inquire about how to obtain a gun licence.
Purchasing a firearm requires getting a possession and acquisition licence, which can takes months because of the many requirements, said de Groot.
These include passing an in-person firearms safety course and making an application to the Canadian Firearms Centre. Following these steps, a background investigation is carried out by the RCMP and/or a provincial chief firearms office.
But because of the slowdown in processing of applications caused by the pandemic — and the complete shutdown of group classes by the province — "it is next to impossible for anyone to acquire a new (licence) in the coming months," she said.
The licence is a requirement in Canada to possess a firearm, including a long gun, or to buy a firearm or ammunition. Applicants must be 18 or older but the licence doesn’t require a citizenship or residency documents.
“So Canadians can’t stock up on firearms and ammunition,” said de Groot.
As Ontario and the rest of the country faces the ever-growing novel coronavirus pandemic, there has been a corresponding spike in the number of firearms and ammunitions being sold to a worried public.
Alison de Groot, managing director of Canada Sporting Arms and Ammunition Association, acknowledged the sale of hunting ammunition and hunting rifles are surging as well as a corresponding increase in the association’s rural stores of sales of small-calibre (. 22) ammunition.
She said the smaller calibre ammunition is used for target shooting, especially by youths in rural areas who are looking for activities to do with schools closed.
The Gunblog.ca reported on March 17 that the Bullseye Super Store in London, Ont., has seen a very high order volume in ammunition and firearms, causing slower responses by the company and delayed pickup orders.
Al Flaherty’s Outdoor Store in Toronto stated in a message on its website that it has closed the store to the public and orders must be submitted through the website.
“The situation has resulted in a rush of clients coming to our store,” the message stated.
Target Sports Canada, a popular indoor shooting facility located in Gormley, states on its website that it has had “high volume of customers on weekends and holidays” using its facilities.
Locally, the Silverdale Gun Club, located in St. Ann’s, near Smithville, issued a notice on its website limiting the number of people to its facility at 40, while reducing its hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Canadian Tire and Bass Pro Shops did not response to a request for comment.
De Groot said one reason for the increase in ammunition and firearms sales is because of the potential impact of the border slowdown between Canada and the United States. She said since there are few manufacturers left in Canada, about 90 per cent of hunting rifles and ammunition are imported, predominately from the United States.
“Our customers are concerned that the Canada market won’t be resupplied before the fall hunting season,” she said.
De Groot said, for instance, outfitters have had a difficult time resupplying fishing product since travel connections have been closed to China because of the virus.
“Now with the U.S.-Canada border shut down, our store customers fear the same result with respect to firearms and ammunition,” she said.
De Groot said the association is cautioning customers that the supply chain “is intact and there are no anticipated product shortages.
“For our regular clients this is very similar to buying extra toilet paper,” she said.
Gun advocates and business owners have also indicated the coronavirus pandemic, coupled with the downturn in the economy and panic buying in grocery stores, is driving more people to inquire about how to obtain a gun licence.
Purchasing a firearm requires getting a possession and acquisition licence, which can takes months because of the many requirements, said de Groot.
These include passing an in-person firearms safety course and making an application to the Canadian Firearms Centre. Following these steps, a background investigation is carried out by the RCMP and/or a provincial chief firearms office.
But because of the slowdown in processing of applications caused by the pandemic — and the complete shutdown of group classes by the province — "it is next to impossible for anyone to acquire a new (licence) in the coming months," she said.
The licence is a requirement in Canada to possess a firearm, including a long gun, or to buy a firearm or ammunition. Applicants must be 18 or older but the licence doesn’t require a citizenship or residency documents.
“So Canadians can’t stock up on firearms and ammunition,” said de Groot.