Your Address
00000 Your Road
Yourtown, Ontario
X0X 1X1

January 26, 2000

Primier Mike Harris
Room 28, Legislative Building
Queen's Park
Toronto, Ontario 
M7A 1A1 
Fax: 416-325-7578

Dear Sir;

It has come to our attention that the Ontario provincial government is
considering withdrawing from the administration of the Federal Firearms Act, and 
closing down the Chief Firearms Officer's office in Orillia.  We further 
understand that the administration and enforcement of the Firearms Act would 
then fall to the R.C.M.P.

We have grave concerns about such a precipitous action on the part of the 
Ontario provincial government.  We belong to the __________ Fish and Game Club; 
it operates an approved shooting range at our club site at (location of your 
club) near Yourtown, Ontario.  This past year, our club has been working in 
close cooperation with members of the CFO's inspecting staff in order to meet 
the standards for an approved shooting range under the regulations made pursuant 
to Section 117 (d) and (e) of the Firearms Act.

We are sending this letter to attest to the high level of co-operation and the 
good working relationship that has developed between our club and the CFO's 
office over the past years.  Furthermore, this letter is intended to demonstrate 
our strong support for the continued existence of the CFO's office within the 
establishment of the Ontario Provincial Police. 

We have strong reservations about what appears to be a developing 
confrontational attitude at the federal Department of Justice with respect to 
the recreational firearms community.  The use of the R.C.M.P. to administer the 
Firearms Act in other provinces has given rise to reports of their inflexibility 
and lack of co-operation with shooting clubs.  The significant number of 
shooting range closures in British Columbia comes to mind.

In conclusion, on behalf of our fellow club members, and ourselves, we hope this 
letter illustrates our desire to continue to develop the existing good working 
relationship with the CFO's office.  Its closure would be very detrimental to 
the completion of our joint long-term efforts to comply with the requirements of 
the Firearms Act.  We hope you and your colleagues will support the future 
existence of the CFO's Office within the O.P.P. and allow our continued co-
operation.

Yours sincerely


Mr. and Mrs. YourName
Yourtown, Ontario
Member, Your Fish and Game Club