New high-powered, military-style rifles for Saskatchewan conservation officers may be worrying First Nations leaders but they are strictly for safety, provincial officials say.
“These high powered rifles are strictly to protect us from aggressive bears, moose or even squirrels,” said Wyatt Fehér, assistant deputy Environment minister.
“It’s totally not to intimidate First Nations.”
It’s also a complete coincidence, Fehér said, that the new AR-style rifles are coming when the province is looking to enact stricter trespassing laws and even more of a coincide that provincial officials were spotted salivating while kicking the tires on a tank at a recent military trade show.