It is our last evening in Toronto, prior to leaving for the Olympics. It was with great sadness, that we removed our equipment from the CNRA Handgun Club in Union Station, our training facility. The range will officially close on Aug. 29th, before we return from the Olympics. Its a great send off, courtesy of the City Council of Toronto and Mayor Miller.
The CNRA Handgun Club was a great club for people to get together and form friendships while engaging in the gentlemenly art of target shooting. Yes, initially, it was a "manly" sport, when it started in 1921. Hell, everything associated with the railway (CNRA stood for Canadian National Recreation Association) was manly back then. The CNRA hosted regular competitons between the post office employees, the bank employees, any group interested in competing. There were trophies speaking of the prowess exhibited going as far back at the early 1930s.
Changes took place. Initially, the club was for CN employees only as a recreational activity. The CN Police practiced there as well. In time, non-CN employees were allowed to join as "associates". Competitions evolved to include teams within the Metro Pistol League. This continued right through until 2008, with the club winning its division. To underscore the degree of change experienced, our team has been lead by a woman, Avianna Chao.
Warning: Political Diatribe About to Unfold - Feel Free to Stop Reading Here
Unfortunately, cowardice and ineptitude eventually caused the closure of the club, but not by the actions of its membership. The club was closed by Mayor David Miller. You see, he has consistently failed at making any dents in gang-related crime. Some would say that he has failed in most of his duties. Regardless, the City of Toronto has a mayor more interested in making YouTube videos than providing legitimate answers to his constituents' needs.
Instead of fighting crime, he closes unrelated gun clubs. Instead of pursuing gangs, Mayor Miller harasses Canadian Olympians. Mayor Miller does not care about safety and the law. He cares about cheap politics and the hope for re-election.
He also hopes to secure the Pan American Games in 2015. Mayor Miller does not support any sports in Toronto. As proof, what has Mayor Miller done to make Toronto more sport-friendly since the failed 2008 Olympic bid? Nothing. The sport infrastrucure is unchanged. Among other failures, he closes public swimming pools and rec centres. Now he openly attacks target shooters, questioning our morals and integrity (never forget his "so-called legal" firearm owners slur).
I would ask that all shooters in Canada publically boycott Toronto's 2015 Pan American Games. We must withdraw our support as individuals, and provincial and national bodies. If Toronto is involved in any manner, either individually or within a Golden Horseshoe bid, whether the shooting events are offered in the City or outside, no shooting clubs, officials or volunteers will participate. Let the Canadian Olympic Committee, the 2015 Toronto Pan Ams Game Bid Committee and City Council know that they will not be able to host any shooting sports because they have alienated the Canadian shooting community.
For a Toronto bid to be successful, it MUST include the shooting events. Venezuela and Columbia have strong international shooting programs. Peru is developing. Those countries will offer excellent shooting venues. Toronto will not, especially if we as a group withdraw our support. We have the power to kill the bid and we must do this.
We must send a strong message to the City of Toronto, plus all surrounding municipalities, that there will be political repercussions to discriminating against all legitimate shooting sports.
I closed my range tonight and thought of all the good things that took place there. One Olympian and one Paralympian trained there, to represent Toronto and Canada. Numerous other shooters developed their skills. Friends got together and made a community within the heart of Toronto. One act of shortsighted political opportunism snuffed it out. Let Mayor Miller pay the price with the bids for all future games.
The CNRA Handgun Club was a great club for people to get together and form friendships while engaging in the gentlemenly art of target shooting. Yes, initially, it was a "manly" sport, when it started in 1921. Hell, everything associated with the railway (CNRA stood for Canadian National Recreation Association) was manly back then. The CNRA hosted regular competitons between the post office employees, the bank employees, any group interested in competing. There were trophies speaking of the prowess exhibited going as far back at the early 1930s.
Changes took place. Initially, the club was for CN employees only as a recreational activity. The CN Police practiced there as well. In time, non-CN employees were allowed to join as "associates". Competitions evolved to include teams within the Metro Pistol League. This continued right through until 2008, with the club winning its division. To underscore the degree of change experienced, our team has been lead by a woman, Avianna Chao.
Warning: Political Diatribe About to Unfold - Feel Free to Stop Reading Here
Unfortunately, cowardice and ineptitude eventually caused the closure of the club, but not by the actions of its membership. The club was closed by Mayor David Miller. You see, he has consistently failed at making any dents in gang-related crime. Some would say that he has failed in most of his duties. Regardless, the City of Toronto has a mayor more interested in making YouTube videos than providing legitimate answers to his constituents' needs.
Instead of fighting crime, he closes unrelated gun clubs. Instead of pursuing gangs, Mayor Miller harasses Canadian Olympians. Mayor Miller does not care about safety and the law. He cares about cheap politics and the hope for re-election.
He also hopes to secure the Pan American Games in 2015. Mayor Miller does not support any sports in Toronto. As proof, what has Mayor Miller done to make Toronto more sport-friendly since the failed 2008 Olympic bid? Nothing. The sport infrastrucure is unchanged. Among other failures, he closes public swimming pools and rec centres. Now he openly attacks target shooters, questioning our morals and integrity (never forget his "so-called legal" firearm owners slur).
I would ask that all shooters in Canada publically boycott Toronto's 2015 Pan American Games. We must withdraw our support as individuals, and provincial and national bodies. If Toronto is involved in any manner, either individually or within a Golden Horseshoe bid, whether the shooting events are offered in the City or outside, no shooting clubs, officials or volunteers will participate. Let the Canadian Olympic Committee, the 2015 Toronto Pan Ams Game Bid Committee and City Council know that they will not be able to host any shooting sports because they have alienated the Canadian shooting community.
For a Toronto bid to be successful, it MUST include the shooting events. Venezuela and Columbia have strong international shooting programs. Peru is developing. Those countries will offer excellent shooting venues. Toronto will not, especially if we as a group withdraw our support. We have the power to kill the bid and we must do this.
We must send a strong message to the City of Toronto, plus all surrounding municipalities, that there will be political repercussions to discriminating against all legitimate shooting sports.
I closed my range tonight and thought of all the good things that took place there. One Olympian and one Paralympian trained there, to represent Toronto and Canada. Numerous other shooters developed their skills. Friends got together and made a community within the heart of Toronto. One act of shortsighted political opportunism snuffed it out. Let Mayor Miller pay the price with the bids for all future games.
