Government Celebrates Two-year Anniversary of Saskatchewan Firearms Office

Released on September 22, 2023

This week marks two years since government officially established the Saskatchewan Firearms Office and took over the provincial firearms program from the federal government. 

"The creation of the Saskatchewan Firearms Office was the first step in making sure that our province's position on responsible firearms ownership is heard loud and clear," Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Paul Merriman said. "In the last two years, the Saskatchewan Firearms Office and Mr. Freberg have been invaluable in promoting firearms safety and sticking up for responsible Saskatchewan firearms owners."

Since the Saskatchewan Firearms Office was established, it has taken numerous steps to improve firearms safety and promote the perspective of the Saskatchewan firearms community in Canada. This includes: 

• conducting public awareness campaigns to promote firearms safety across Saskatchewan;
• helping to establish a Firearms Advisory Committee to provide policy recommendations to government on education, licensing and transportation of firearms, the licensing of firearms ranges, and public safety concerns;
• helping to develop The Saskatchewan Firearms Act, which will allow the Saskatchewan Firearms Office to take on an expanded role in prosecuting non-violent regulatory firearms offenses;
• signing a memorandum of understanding with the Saskatoon Police Service to house the new provincial Firearms Ballistics Lab. 

"I'm proud to represent responsible Saskatchewan firearms owners," Chief Firearms Officer Robert Freberg said. "We've accomplished a lot in two years, and I'm looking forward to continuing the great work we're doing in promoting responsible firearms use and public safety." 

Government has dedicated approximately $8.9 million in the 2023-24 budget to support the work it does to reduce the criminal use of firearms and protect the rights of law-abiding gun owners.

The Saskatchewan Firearms Office has jurisdiction over the licensing, storage, transportation and carrying of firearms. The position of Chief Firearms Officer is also responsible for licensing instructors who provide firearm safety training in the province.

The Government of Saskatchewan continues to oppose the federal government's firearm control measures, including Bill C-21, which will do little to impact firearm related crime in our province, and unfairly targets law-abiding firearms owners.

For additional information on the excellent work being done by the Saskatchewan Firearms Office, see:

• https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2023/april/06/province-passes-saskatchewan- firearms-act
• https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2023/april/04/government-signs-mou-with- saskatoon-police-service-to-house-ballistics-lab
• https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2023/march/17/saskatchewan-firearms-office- launches-public-safety-campaign
• https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2022/december/01/province-introduces-the- saskatchewan-firearms-act
• https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2022/april/13/firearms-advisory-committee- established

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