Alberta names chief firearms officer
In response to the Fair Deal Panel report, Alberta’s government is asserting provincial authority by appointing a chief firearms officer to stand up for the rights of law-abiding firearms owners.
Teri Bryant is the first-ever appointee to the newly created Chief Firearms Office for Alberta. The role of the office includes determining licensing eligibility, compliance with legislation, overseeing the administration of firearms safety courses and other duties that previously fell to the federal government. She will advocate for responsible federal firearms legislation to deter criminals, respect property rights and make sure Albertans continue to live in safe and secure communities.
“As a lifelong firearms collector and enthusiast, I could not be more excited for this opportunity to represent Albertans and stand up for our province’s way of life and lawful firearms culture. I cannot wait to meet with other passionate Albertans with Minister Madu on our tour to find out how we can get a fair deal for Albertans,” explained Bryant of her new role of chief firearms officer for Alberta.
“I am delighted to welcome the province’s first-ever designated chief firearms officer. I know she will be promoting a system of firearms administration in this province that is rooted in the values and priorities of Albertans, and will fight hard for the legitimate rights of Alberta’s lawful gun owners,” said Kaycee Madu, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General.
Madu will be joined later this year by the new chief firearms officer on a tour of Alberta shooting ranges to connect directly with Albertans who own and use firearms. Planned stops for the tour will be released at a later date.
This office is being created in response to the Fair Deal Panel report, as well as telephone town hall sessions and a public survey conducted by the Alberta Firearms Advisory Committee.
“A comment we heard over and over again when talking to Albertans through the Alberta Firearms Advisory Committee was that Alberta needs a provincial chief firearms officer. I believe appointing Teri Bryant is a smart step – she is a talented and knowledgeable leader who is an extremely valuable member of the committee. I know she will work hard to get a fair deal for Albertans. It’s a challenging time to be a firearms owner in Alberta, and Ms. Bryant can provide a strong voice to stand up for our way of life and personal property rights,” explained Michaela Glasgo, MLA for Brooks-Medicine Hat and chair, Alberta Firearms Advisory Committee
Bryant was a member of the Alberta Firearms Advisory Committee. She served as the secretary of the Alberta Arms and Cartridge Collectors Association for the past 16 years and is the president of the Military Collectors Club of Canada. Bryant was an associate professor with the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary on national and international business.
As chief firearms officer, Bryant will demonstrate that public safety and a flourishing firearms community are mutually complementary goals. She will ensure that we preserve for future generations a firearms heritage that reflects Alberta’s values of safety, responsibility and respect for individual rights. Quick facts
• The federal Canadian Firearms Program is responsible for administering the Firearms Act and regulations.
• Under the federal Firearms Act, provinces may opt-in and administer the Canadian Firearms Program through a provincial chief firearms officer.
• The federal government administers the program through a federal chief firearms officer for provinces that opt-out.
• Alberta is now opting-in, joining Ontario, Quebec, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Saskatchewan is also in the process of transitioning to a provincial chief firearms officer.
• As of Dec. 31, 2019, there were 326,519 licensed firearms owners in Alberta.
The Canadian Shooting Sports Association was pleased for Bryant on her appointment as Chief Firearms Officer for Alberta.
Dr. Bryant brings a lifetime of firearm ownership, hunting experience and knowledge to her new position.
Prior to accepting this appointment, Teri Bryant served on the Alberta Firearms Advisory Committee from 2020 until the present.
In 2015, Dr. Bryant retired from the faculty of the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business to focus on volunteer activities. Some of those volunteer activities predate her retirement, of course, and just a few of her past volunteer positions in the firearms community include:
• Director of the Canadian Shooting Sports Association;
President of the Military Collectors Club of Canada;
Secretary of the Alberta Arms and Cartridge Collectors Association.
An avid collector of Japanese firearms and militaria, Dr. Bryant is well-known for her research website NambuWorld.com.
Dr. Bryant is the second long-time firearms authority to be appointed as Chief Firearms Officer of a province. Last fall, Saskatoon Wildlife Federation Past President and former CSSA Director Robert Freberg was designated as the Chief Firearms Officer of Saskatchewan.