Gun safety may be a topic of debate, but here on campus the UOIT-DC Firearms Association is giving students the chance to safely learn how to handle a firearm.
The association is offering the campus’ first Canadian Firearms Safety Course at the Oshawa Shriners Club on both January 30 and 31.
The UOIT-DC Firearms Association is hosting two courses back-to-back. These are the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) and the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC).
The CFSC and CRFSC are both designed to give attendees a basic understanding of the laws that apply to storing, transporting, as well as safe handling of a firearm. Both courses are completed with a written and practical handling test to ensure that necessary skills and knowledge have been learned.
Josh Haviland, the president of the UOIT-DC Firearms Association, says the course provides fundamental skills needed to ensure safe handling and operation of any firearm that an attendee may come into contact with. He also says that having a firearms license can benefit any individual that may come into contact with a firearm in their lifetime during employment or for any future endeavours.
“I suggest individuals take the course because it is one of the greatest sports in the world. Firearm owners have a strong base and involvement in lawful sport shooting both recreationally and competition,” said Haviland. “This course gives exposure and allows attendees to further explore the heritage and history Canada has to offer furthering the traditions to future generations.”
To obtain a firearms license an application must be sent to the RCMP. The application cost is $60 for a non-restricted only license or $90 for the restricted license. The costs of the courses are $165 for the CFSC and $125 for the CRFSC.
Haviland says attendees of the courses are safely welcomed into a community with extensive history, tradition and culture that includes both hunting as well as target shooting.
“New shooters routinely are welcomed to ranges across Canada with open helpful arms by more experienced range goers,” said Haviland. “I myself have been shown tricks and tips as well as helped numerous young shooters improve their experience and performance at the range.”
To complete the course, an in-class period must be attended. The CFSC is a 12-hour class and the CRFSC is six hours. Attendees must also complete and pass both a written and practical handling examination.
Haviland says safety is the association’s first priority when handling a firearm.
“To ensure safety at all times live ammunition is not allowed to be present inside the classroom,” says Haviland.
If you are interested in obtaining your firearms license, visit durhamfirearmcourses.com. Here you can register and pay for the courses online. For any further questions you can visit both the website or email the UOIT-DC Firearms Association at uoitdcfirearmsassociation@gmail.com.
This is excellent news!
Excellent! Well done providing this course opportunity.
this is great. I think everyone should take the course even if your not planning on owning firearms, just to learn about them is a great thing.
This is excellent news! Safe firearms education should be included in high school. Learning demystifies and removes fear of the unknown. I hope more colleges follow the great example DC.
Excellent work!! Great to see colleges and students having access to quality firearm training. The shooting sports are a great way to make friends, get out with the community and spend time with family! Way to go Josh and Durham College! I suggest everyone get out and take the course.
I think the offering of these courses at the college level is great. Even if your not considering purchasing a firearm it gives the participant the understanding in regards to licensing process and the safe handling of firearms.
Great article from Mariah hope to see more articles based on facts not feelings.
This is a great course to be made available. Coming from a background where firearms were a part of the weekly routine, I agree that having even the basic amount of knowledge regarding firearms is beneficial. Over the years I have had a couple friends inherit firearms, and asked me how to take them apart so they felt safer with them in their homes. Making a firearms safe is the most important part of the course, in my opinion. The students will the CFSC will learn this, and be confident in future encounters.
Way to go guys. Great work
Good to see the UDFA getting some exposure! I know we’re all eager to see more responsible and safe firearms owners!
Way to go guys!
the more education that is offered to people the better off society will be. I think that the firearm sports are one of the last sporting frontieres that also teach participants social skills through social interaction which helps keep communities bonded. As “on-line” as we all are, we dont really talk to our neighbors much anymore.
Here in Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia Community Collage did the CFSC & CFSC for many years. Good job Durham.
Wonderful to see UOIT supporting firearms education. Hopefully more schools will be as open to the idea.
Good job, keep up the good work. We need more people like you to further our cause.
Good work people education is key to end the utter ignorance in today’s world. Keep up the grate work .
This is a great step forward for familiarizing anyone and everyone with how to safely participate in shooting sports. Great article!
Well done! I’m 71 now – back in the 60s and 70s I taught at least 100 high school students how to shoot. We had a range in the school, 2 Anschutz target .22s and all the DND ammo we could shoot. I still live in the same town and as far as I know not one of those boys or girls (some over 60 now) ever had an accident or “on purpose”. Good times! Feel sad for kids today.
My grandfather told me how schools used to have ranges in them, as I am just about finishing high school now, I find that very interesting. Do you mind me asking what town you live in? Were school ranges prevalent in many high schools at one time?
Most of the high schools that were built up to the 1970’s have a range in them, I did asbestos surveys for two different school boards in south westren ontario all of the High schools had ranges except one and there was a public range in the building next to the high school
Great to hear that Durham College is supportive of its students learning to safely use firearms. It is a wonderful way to carry on Canada’s rich history of hunting and shooting sports! Cheers!
Thank you CCFR! This is exactly what is needed to dispel the lies told by the Coalition for Gun Confiscation.