Closet Range Junkies – The Silent Majority in Canadian Gun Culture

If you’ve spent enough time on the range in Canada, you’ve probably met them.  In fact, you might even be one yourself — a Closet Range Junkie.

These are the shooters who love the sport, invest in quality gear, and can talk for hours about the nuances of IPSC, IDPA, hunting, or the latest rifle build.

They’ll passionately share how unfair and illogical Canadian firearm policies are… but only behind the firing line.

Two Kinds of Gun Owners

Over time, I’ve noticed there are generally two types of gun owners in Canada:

1. The Proud and Public – They don’t hide their love for shooting sports. They share their matches on social media, post their hunting trips, and openly advocate for fair firearm legislation.
2. The Closet Range Junkies – They live and breathe gun culture in private, but never talk about it outside of trusted circles. They might be worried about what their employer, friends, or family will think. Or maybe they fear online backlash, cancelled contracts, or becoming a target of political rhetoric.

And to be clear — I get it.  Canada is not the U.S. The political climate here is… let’s say, less than warm toward law-abiding firearm owners.

The Frustrating Part

Here’s the contradiction that really stands out:

Closet Range Junkies are often the loudest voices at the range about how “something needs to be done” and how “gun owners need to fight back.”

But when it comes to showing up — writing their MP, joining advocacy groups, attending town halls, or even just speaking publicly about their sport — they disappear into the shadows.

It’s like wanting your team to win but refusing to step onto the field.

Why This Matters

The anti-gun movement in Canada thrives partly because the pro-gun community is so quiet in public spaces.  Politicians see far more opposition letters than support letters when gun control bills appear. Media coverage is often one-sided because few people are willing to go on record to provide balance.

If our community only exists in private, we risk letting our sport fade away without a fight.

No One’s Asking You to Be Reckless

Speaking up doesn’t have to mean plastering your gun collection all over Instagram.

It could mean:

• Sending a respectful, fact-based letter to your MP.
• Joining a firearm advocacy group and helping with behind-the-scenes work.
• Volunteering at a local shooting event to introduce newcomers to the sport.
• Having honest, respectful conversations with non-gun owners in your circle.

Every voice helps — and the fewer that remain silent, the harder it is to ignore us.

Final Shot

If you love the sport, the community, and the freedom it represents — don’t just be a Closet Range Junkie.  Be proud. Be respectful. Be visible.  Because if we all keep our passion locked away, one day there may be nothing left to keep.