Gun and hobby show clicks with southern Albertans

By Ry Clarke - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on February 7, 2023.

Herald photo by Ry Clarke Vendor Mark Foreman talks to guests at the Gun and Hobby Show about his antique guns and the history behind them Saturday at Lethbridge Exhibition Park.

Firearms enthusiasts had the Lethbridge Gun and Hobby Show in their sights on the weekend at the Lethbridge Exhibition.

The Southern Alberta Rifleman’s Association hosted the two-day event, inviting enthusiasts to check out various vendors selling supplies such as knives, ammunition, scopes, archery, fishing, antique collectables, and of course guns.

The show saw plenty of traffic with doors opening on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. to a lineup of eager hobbyists looking to check out what was on display.

“We are delighted to have this show running again after the COVID pandemic that’s been setting everything back a couple of years. It’s interesting to see here with the liberal gun laws that are on the table right now, with the general population that’s coming out here today. Let’s get the law right, punish those who misuse guns and have an enjoyable social event, like what we are having here, for people who do it legally,” said Rifleman’s Association member Bryan Corns Saturday.

“This event gives everybody an opportunity in the firearms industry, whether you own a collection or are new, to come in, show your wares, exchange ideas and have a cultural visit.”

Corns noted the unique community that exists in southern Alberta. “You’ll find in the Prairie provinces, you have more visitors at a show like this than you would in urban areas like Toronto. In the city of Lethbridge, the number of people who have rented a table and come out, is considerably more than some of the other towns that we have gone to in Saskatchewan, northern Alberta, and B.C. This seems to be a better drawing attraction right here in Lethbridge than some of the others towns we do.”

Teri Bryant, Alberta’s Chief Firearms Officer, was also present at the event, helping Albertans with answers to questions regarding gun laws.

“I am here to let people know that the Government of Alberta is listening to the concerns of firearms owners and doing our best to represent. Most of the legislation around firearms is federal so it’s not something that we can wave a wand and make go away. But we are doing our best to protect firearm owners from the unintended side effects,” said Bryant.

“I also have one of my staff members here who is providing services to people, assisting them with their transfers, license renewals, and helping them to get reference numbers for their transfers of non-restricted firearms between individuals, which is a new requirement that was introduced last July.”

Attendees had plenty to choose from with all the vendors.

“We primarily target the firearm industry but this event has anything that portrays outdoor activity. Fishing, hunting knives, and a few other things you’ll have a whole gamut of things here. We have guns from the late 1800s to the most modern that you could have,” said Corns.

“I think the continued thriving existence of a firearms community is very important to firearms owners,” sad Bryant. “My staff and I will be right there with them helping in evert way that we can.”