Fiery remarks made by education minister during WPRC clubhouse dedication
Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development Bill Hogan engaged in explosive rhetoric during a Woodstock Pistol and Rifle Club (WPRC) event last weekend.
“It’s time we take back our country and have law-abiding citizens that can own guns and that aren’t a danger to anybody,” said Hogan in a short speech during the opening of a new clubhouse.
The minister said New Brunswickers have a right to defend themselves.
“We’ve owned sidearms for years, decades, and this is not the United States; this is not Toronto, this is not Montreal, so I think we’re pretty safe. At least we want to be able to defend ourselves.”
Hogan also said that he intends to join the WPRC shortly.
“I don’t know if it’s so much taking back our country, but our countries full of law-abiding citizens and the way the federal government acts, you’d think we are all criminals. Because they’re saying that all parents beat their kids, it’s not true, and it’s about time we start speaking about what’s true and what isn’t.” Hogan said when asked to clarify what he meant by “taking our country back.”
The event, held Oct. 14 at the gun range in Woodstock, celebrated the new clubhouse opening.
WPRC President Floyd Burpee said members wanted a larger clubhouse.
The gathering place is dedicated to the memory of local community member Ray Tibbits, a much-beloved member of the club and the wider community who passed away in 2018.
The club occasionally hosts events like “Ladies Day,” hosted by the Canadian Collation for Firearms Rights, a lobbying organization dedicated to gun rights.
The event included a draw offering prizes such as a .22 Winchester rifle being given to the winner.
Tobique-Mactaquac MP Richard Bragdon also attended, noting WPRC’s importance to the community.
“I think it is important because it’s a place for law-abiding firearms owners to come and practice with their weapons sometimes, and for sometimes just the sport of it, to prove their skill,” he said.
Bragdon stressed the facility’s role in showing people the proper ways to handle and behave around firearms and the camaraderie the WPRC generates among its members.
