A Statement from the Executive Vice President of Canada’s NFA.

A Statement from the Executive Vice President of Canada’s National Firearms Association on the Politicization of the Montreal Attack, the Selective Reporting of the Montreal Attacker’s Manifesto, and the Misplaced Focus on Firearms:

The Montreal attacker’s worldview was a toxic convergence of far-left extremism, laced with misogynistic hatred and personal alienation. 

He targeted police officers, not women.

His animosity toward women was only a small part of this, and it is sad, though not surprising, to see that mainstream media outlets chose to focus on that specifically, because this is a broader issue than simple misogyny – and an issue that mainstream media arguably shares some of the guilt for: political polarization.

This individual was part of a cultural and social network that advocates violence as a means of achieving the social and economic change they seek.

The individuals who adhere to these ideologies generally suffer from serious personal, mental, and social issues, as well as feelings of disenfranchisement. Those individuals have always existed, but today they appear increasingly inclined toward acts of violence.

Why?

If your answer is “men”, you may be, hypocritically, looking for a gender-based scapegoat.
If your answer is “the gun”, you’re asking the wrong question.

If you think it might be the extreme political, cultural, and economic polarization and discourse that dominate our society today, you might have a clue.

Blaming the gun for his actions is like blaming the keyboard for his manifesto – lazy and politically convenient.

Until Canada heals itself, things are going to get worse and worse.
Unless we re-establish respect for our rights and freedoms, as well as our institutions, and stop demonizing anything and anyone that does not fit within a narrow worldview, there will be no end.

Until we address the growing polarization and normalization of vilifying those with opposing views, these tragedies will continue.  

Blair Hagen,

Executive Vice President, Director for British Columbia

Canada’s National Firearms Association

June 29, 2026