THE CCFR IS THE MOST ACTIVE AND INNOVATIVE FIREARM ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION IN CANADA.
Introduction to the CCFR:
The CCFR is a completely different group in that we are a public relations organization that focuses on both educating non-gun owning Canadians on the topic and representing gun owners in a positive light.
Here are some of the things we’ve accomplished in less than five record-breaking years
Trade shows: since our inception, we’ve sponsored booths at hundreds of shows across Canada; spreading the mandate of the CCFR and reaching out to the general public. Our approach has been welcoming and educational, introducing firearms and their owners to non-gun owning Canadians.
We sent a delegation at the CPC convention in Vancouver and helped historic new policies be adopted for Canadian firearms owners
Produced a CCFR YouTube channel with update videos, educational resources for all firearms owners to use and access.
Developed Gundebate.ca – a repository of information, resources and statistical data for all firearms owners to use.
PSA announcements detailing some of the unfair and damaging legislation Canadian firearms owners face. We had impressive analytics on these PSA’s, with over 253 000 people reached.
Countless radio, TV, print and web interviews with Rod Giltaca and Tracey Wilson shedding a positive light on gun ownership in a mature, rational, likeable manner. These include CTV National News, CBC’s The National and more.
Front cover of 7 national newspapers display Tracey Wilson and her “Gun Goddess” story, shedding light on women in the shooting sports and dispelling the myths created by media. This is the first time any firearm organization has had front page, positive, national coverage.
Live streamed our AGMs, and offered secure online voting so every member could attend, and participate regardless of geographical location. The CCFR is the first to provide this opportunity and transparency to its membership.
The CCFR is fully compliant with the NFP Act including up-to-date financials available upon request, another first.
Have recruited over 250 Field Officers to help attend shows and events.
Supported the approval of new ranges by attended city council meetings.
Sponsored multiple events across Canada including IPSC and youth shooting events and the 6th Annual Podcasters Charity Shoot in support of “Soldier On”, IDPA ON provincials, Got Your Six Charity shoot
Published an “open letter” to Crime stoppers LEM regarding their offensive billboard which was subsequently removed and an apology issued.
Released an official press release to advise Canadians about the RCMP opinion on the Ruger 10/22 mag issue and attended a multi-org planning session to discuss ways we can work together to fight this decision. The CCFR is committed to working with and alongside other orgs for the benefit of firearms owners.
Lobbyist Tracey Wilson meeting with the Minister of the Status of Women in Canada to discuss the evolution of women in our sport.
Developed a comprehensive insurance program, including $5 000 000 liability policy for ALL members, at no extra charge, a legal advice insurance product so firearms owners can get the tough questions answered by the most knowledgeable firearms law experts for a nominal annual fee ($16), and legal defense ($92) insurance that protects firearms owners from prosecution, using the most respected and knowledgeable legal team in Canada.
Sponsored and volunteered at the 4H Youth Shooting Program in Nova Scotia where kids and teens learned the fundamentals of safety, maintenance, operation and storage & transportation of various firearms
Launched the CCFR Gunnie Girl calendar program, comprised of women who are members. With women quickly becoming the fastest growing sector of the shooting sports, the CCFR has launched an exciting new fund-raising initiative to support women’s programming and education. The “CCFR Gunnie Girl Calendar” is a creative, fun way to highlight some of the classy, Canadian women who are trail blazers in our community. This year’s calendar features Olympic hopefuls, political figures, media personalities and the girl next door.
CCFR Board Members were the originating signatories on the infamous AR-15 E-Petition, an MP sponsored parliamentary petition that gained the highest number of signatures (at that point) of ANY petition put before parliament with a staggering 25 000+ names.
Organized and recruited ranges outside Fort McMurray to harbor victims of the 2016 wild fires, the Gatineau floods and worked with the CFO on the BC wild fires, giving them a safe place to go and bring their R and NR firearms, their families and belongings or offering temporary safe storage to evacuees. Many firearms owners were being turned away from shelters if they arrived with their firearms with them.
Attended the CPC Leadership debate in Ottawa, where Tracey Wilson was the first to address the candidates and asked the only firearms rights related questions. CBC covered the event.
The CCFR launched the “Explainer video” series, an innovative new set of 2 minute videos that are highly shareable, short and drill down into issues that affect gun owners. This was a $120,000 public outreach program, the largest firearm related PR campaign in Canada’s history.
Developed and distributed an “across the playing field” questionnaire for candidates of the CPC Leadership race to fill out and return. The data collected from this form will help us populate the easy to understand and highly shareable “CCFR Report Cards” we will produce for each candidate on their stance regarding the firearms file. Met with candidates face to face at the House of Commons and other events.
The CCFR is the only organization meeting with Public Safety on a regular basis to help guide & navigate legislation and delay unfriendly initiatives like the UN marking scheme and Bill C-71.
National title sponsors of Project Mapleseed, a national Canadian marksmanship program.
Sponsored Olympic hopeful and Team Canada member, Mary Patrick on her journey to the 2020 Olympics and international shooting events.
The CCFR has entered into an advertising agreement with Wild TV to highlight the issues facing Canadian gun owners. The goal is to unite all gun owners and to encourage them to become active.
Have launched www.e1093.ca a parliamentary e-petition sponsored by Michelle Rempel demanding the members of CFAC take the Canadian Firearm Safety Course
Launched CCFR Radio, a wildly popular bi-weekly podcast to keep gun owners advised of issues, events and features special guest interviews. Available on iTunes. https://podcast.ccfr.ca/
The CCFR is in the process of filming the first television show in Canadian broadcast history to feature target and sport shooting. This show will air October 2018 nationally on WildTV and is called “The CCFR’s Canada Down Range”. Canadian gun owners have never had an opportunity to be humanized on national TV before and the CCFR is just the organization to make this happen.
Launched an initiative specifically against Bill C-71 comprised of a grassroots campaign to organize political action as well as an unprecedented online campaign of viral one-minute political videos designed to exert pressure on legislators.
Held the very first pro-gun Parliamentary Press Conference in Center Block in response to Bill C-71. https://youtu.be/qs5Iw5QxrF0
Hosted a firearms roundtable on Parliament Hill with 7 MP’s and accompanying staffers concerning Bill C-71.
Participated in a 23 interview marathon through CBC Syndication where the concerns of gun owners was heard form coast to coast.
Testified as expert witnesses at the Standing Committee on Public safety & National Security regarding C-71
Funded and hosted C-71 & handgun ban Town Halls across the country to raise awareness (ongoing)
Funds and hosts hundreds of Ladies Range Days across the country to introduce women to the shooting sports (ongoing)
Sent two delegates to the Conservative Party of Canada’s Policy Convention to ensure the interests of gun owners was protected during policy development
Participated in over 60 interviews on radio and television in the last 12 months
Made the front page of the local Halifax newspaper during the CPC Policy Convention 2018
Ongoing sponsored campaign against C-71 and the handgun ban with political videos and social media meme campaigns – currently at 30
Conducted a lobby week with the Senate to oppose C-71
Participated in an in-studio live call in show with CFRA’s Brian Lilley to engage the public in a conversation about a handgun ban
Sent Rod Giltaca on invitation from Minister Bill Blair to a consultation meeting in Toronto to defend the interests of gun owners during the examination of a ban on handguns and “assault style rifles”, produced video with Code of Arms about the experience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9qi3GPrSpc&t=13s
Tracey Wilson took Canadian hunting sensation Jim Shockey to the range to discuss C-71 and the proposed examination of a handgun ban, producing multiple social media content posts to raise awareness in the hunting community
Testified at the Senate standing committee on National Security & Defense in opposition to Bill C-71
Single-handedly embarked on a public relations battle with the Canadian Doctors for Protection From Guns, including political videos, media interviews and calls to action
Launched a massively successful new clothing line on the online store for fundraising
Commissioned and completed a research project to investigate and scrutinize the “19 studies” that are the basis of the “clear and overwhelming” evidence (supporting further gun control), a doctor’s group and the Coalition for Gun Control have presented to the media, house committee and senate committees (to be published August 2019)
Hosted countless charity shooting events including the 9th Annual Podcaster’s Charity Shoot raising over $10k for the Big Country Anti-Violence Association & the Drumheller Humane Society
A group of activist doctors claimed to have clear and irrefutable evidence supporting the banning of handguns and so-called “assault weapons”. The studies they used have been quoted endlessly. The CCFR commissioned a full and referenced review of this “evidence” and have circulated it to the media and the Senate. This group now has no evidence. See the summary video here https://youtu.be/XXNSEC9P8n8 Download the study here https://gundebate.ca/intellectual-malpractice/
Renewed the CCFR’s network television show “The CCFR’s Canada Downrange” for a second season. It will premier in January 2020 on Sportsman Channel Canada.
Produced a full budget television commercial to encourage Canadians to think before judging gun owners for air in November 2019 on mainstream television.
The CCFR rented a 30′ long class C motor home fully wrapped to create a moving billboard. This billboard drew attention to the Liberal party’s failure on crime and attack on legal gun owners. Rod Giltaca and Tracey Wilson drove this bus 6000 kilometers from Ottawa to Montreal to Regina, stopping at Liberal campaign offices to confront the candidates about these failures. This was done during the 3 weeks prior to the 2019 federal election. The bus was easily seen by a million Canadians. Candidate offices included Justin Trudeau, Ralph Goodale, Adam Vaughan, Mark Holland, Bill Blair Karen McCrimmon and others.
We developed another 1-hour special – “Broken Trust” for Sportsman channel and online distribution. This special focuses on the CCFR’s court case and why it should matter to all Canadians
The CCFR represented gun owners in over 70 mainstream media appearances since May 1, 2020, including CBC syndicated interviews nationwide. No one represents gun owners as reasonable, relatable people better than the CCFR.
We worked with hunting legend Jim Shockey to create and distribute three videos to raise awareness and get hunters involved. These videos were seen over 500,000 times in just 10 days.
Starting June 23rd, the CCFR’s Canada Downrange Season 2 began running weekly on YouTube as a tool to be shared with all Canadians. This is an incredible resource to show non-gun owners what our community and culture really is, despite what the media wants to show them.
In partnership with WildTV, we produced a groundbreaking investigative documentary series called “Gun Ban Canada – Exposed”. This data driven docu-series exposes the fraudulent arguments of the Liberal Government and their supporters. WATCH THEM ALL
Launched a Bell Media radio ad campaign on TSN Sports and CFRA Talk Radio. These advertisements were heard nation-wide on the I-Heart Radio network.
The CCFR hosted the largest march for firearm rights in 22 years – The CCFR’s Integrity March. 5000 Canadians marched on Ottawa to oppose the undemocratic gun ban, an incredible feat during a global pandemic.
CCFR legal team filed an Injunction Motion Application in Federal Court to stay the May 1 Gun Ban. This motion application will be heard on January 18, 2020.
Launched a groundbreaking new national TV series called Gun Ban Canada Exposed, highlighting the Liberal failures of the May 1 gun ban to combat crime. This 7 part series can be viewed on YouTube.
Launched a massive billboard campaign across the country with the simple, subtle messaging of "Can you handle the truth" and our sister website gundebate.ca. We redeveloped the website into a massive repository of information and data to help educate the public. This campaign, the largest of it's kind in Canadian firearms advocacy, saw 66 full size electronic billboards nationwide carry our message.
Election project - with the 2021 election came some of our biggest projects, right on the heels of the billboard campaign. The CCFR invested $240,000 in radio and TV commercial ads that aired nationally for the 2 weeks before the election on Global, CTV, TSN, CP24 and during major sporting events like football games. In addition, the "Pamphlet Project" was grassroots, boots to the ground, education campaign carried out in key vulnerable ridings across the GTA, in BC and NB. A 16 page, full color, glossy, fully referenced brochure was printed to the tune of 260,000 copies and distributed by hand to the mailboxes of undecided voters across the country. This campaign involved 100's of volunteers, dozens of firearm retailers and our very own Tracey Wilson on the road for 16 days.
Launched yet another national TV show, CCFR Radio - On The Air, to bring weekly updates and entertaining guests to the hunting and outdoors community on Wild TV
Launched the largest national public relations project in Canadian firearms advocacy history, National Range Day - a day to celebrate the 2.3M Canadians who participate in the shooting sports across the country. Clubs and supporters from coast to coast host open house or special events on the 1st Saturday in June every year going forward.
Registered to lobby the provincial government's in upcoming provincial elections to protect the ability of gun owners to maintain ownership of their legal handguns.
The Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights aims to be a strong and reputable, public-facing voice for Canadian firearms owners. We are committed to maintaining our current rights and freedoms while continuing to push as a mobilizing and organizational force for positive legislative change.