Wanstalls Guns and Ammo has closed its doors, announced in October as a temporary situation.
A sign on the door says “retail storefront temporarily closed for renovations.”
The longtime gun shop hosted an inventory reduction sale in early October, and then on Oct. 24 announced the store is “temporarily closed until further notice,” on the store’s Facebook page. It has been in business in Maple Ridge since 1973.
“Very sorry to hear! You’ve been a fixture in Maple Ridge. I know government policies have made it extremely difficult,” said Conservative MP Marc Dalton.
He and Wanstalls owner Craig Jones have been outspoken critics of the federal government and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“This sucks, I hope you guys survive and are able to bounce back when the current stupidity is over,” said Vince Tytler, and there were many similar comments.
The News has not been able to reach Jones for comment.
The business’ website wanstallsonline.com, which sold products across Canada, offers a message “Store unavailable,” but says is should be available shortly.
Wanstalls sold tactical firearms and pistols, as well as rifles and shotguns for hunters, and Jones has been part of the gun control debate as an opposing voice to stricter control by government.
The landscape has changed for gun shops in recent years.
Gun control legislation in Bill C-21 became law in mid December, which made permanent cabinet orders, including a freeze on handgun sales, and a ban on assault-style weapons, such as the AR-15 rifle.
Bill C-21 also brings into force new “red flag” laws, to prohibit gun ownership in situations such as intimate partner violence, or when persons pose a threat to themselves or others. It also increases the penalties for smuggling weapons, and creates new offences to restrict 3D printed firearms.
“These changes to the law, taken together with the recent reforms to the bail system to address repeat violent offenders, will help keep people safer,” said Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. “We will continue to crack down on firearms smuggling and trafficking, target violent crimes involving handguns and address the alarming role of guns in gender-based violence, including intimate partner violence.”
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