After 25 years, the Calgary shooting range closes; the owner blames rent and gun laws
Earlier this year, Cox mentioned to CityNews that he was sitting on $750,000 worth of inventory he couldn’t sell due to the slow rollout of the federal government's buyback program
“Goodbye, farewell and amen.”
These were the parting words shared on Facebook by The Shooting Edge, a shooting range and firearm retail store in Calgary, which is closing its doors after 25 years.
Owner J.R. Cox announced on Thursday that the business is ceasing all operations immediately, citing restrictive gun regulations, declining membership, and rising rental costs as key factors for the closure.
Cox believes that this closure will create a void for Calgary’s gun enthusiasts, leaving only a few ranges remaining in the city. “It’s going to be tough for shooters in Calgary,” he remarked.
“I hope they get out and support the other two clubs. I hope they buy memberships and help them survive, because while we’re competitors, we got into this industry because we believe in the shooting community.”
Canada’s National Firearms Association (NFA), a group advocating for gun rights, expressed their condolences regarding the closure on X, stating their sorrow.
NFA executive VP Blair Hagen commented, “The Shooting Edge was not the first to succumb to this, and it’s not going to stop until Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government is defeated.”
Dennis Sorensen, the owner of another Calgary gun shop, Straight Shooters, questioned the negative perception of his industry. “Having law-abiding gun owners enjoy their hobby in a legal fashion doesn’t hurt people,” he stated.
“We have thousands of guns come in and out, and we have legal owners who enjoy them, and nobody is hurt.”
Earlier this year, Cox mentioned to CityNews that he was sitting on $750,000 worth of inventory he couldn’t sell due to the slow rollout of the federal government's buyback program for assault-style firearms, which were banned following a mass shooting in Nova Scotia in 2020.
Last year, Ottawa announced it had signed a contract with the Canadian Sporting Arms and Ammunition Association (CSAAA) to collaborate with businesses and retailers holding inventory prohibited under the May 2020 order-in-council.
With files from Dione Wearmouth.
