Firearms Community Joint Media Release.

Air Canada

Today, representatives of four major Canadian firearm organizations wrote to request in the strongest possible terms, that the Canadian Transportation Agency disallow Air Canada's $50 charge for transporting firearms.

The letter to the Canadian Transportation Agency pointed out that the National Firearms Association (NFA), International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC), National Range Officer's Institute (NROI Canada) and the Canadian Institute for Legislative Action (CILA) represent nearly half a million Canadian firearm owners. Many members of these groups travel with their firearms to hunt, attend shooting competitions and practices, or engage in historical re-enactment. Some members transport their firearms for defence and professional purposes. In addition, many provinces encourage hunting for its enormous contribution to local economies, and to the tourism industry.

In the joint letter, the group wrote that "This fee of Air Canada for transporting firearms has the appearance of being arbitrary and discriminatory. It is without basis in regulation. We have confirmed with other airlines serving the same markets as Air Canada that none of them charge a fee for transporting firearms. It should be obvious that firearms packed into luggage, and tagged and declared under current regulations, impose no additional cost on the air carrier."

Air Canada's fee will have a negative affect on the many hunters, competitive shooters, guide-outfitters and others who travel with firearms - including Olympic athletes scheduled to visit Vancouver in 2010 to compete in Biathlon and other contests. For these reasons, we respectfully request that you prevent Air Canada from charging this fee and require that it be reimbursed to any who have had to pay it.

The joint complaint was put forward by:

Dave Tomlinson, President National Firearms Association
Bud Mellis, President NROI Canada
Tony Bernardo, Director CILA
Sean Hansen, Regional Director IPSC Canada