The Montreal Canadiens and Carey Price apologized after the goalie posted on social media in support of a gun lobby group that used the Polytechnique Massacre to sell firearms..The Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights (CCFR) was criticized for seemingly using the Dec. 6, 1989 massacre — which claimed the lives of 14 women — to sell firearms. It offered 10% of merchandise for anyone who used POLY as a discount code..Nathalie Provost, a survivor of the massacre and spokesperson for the gun-control group PolySeSouvient, called the discount code "incredibly disrespectful.".Price spoke out against incoming federal gun control legislation on Instagram on Saturday, claiming what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was doing is "unjust."."I love my family, I love my country and I care for my neighbour," he said."I am not a criminal or a threat to society.".Price was referring to a proposed amendment to Bill C-21, a bill that builds on a 2020 regulatory ban of more than 1,500 models and variants of assault-style firearms. The Liberals introduced an amendment that would expand the definition of an assault-style firearm to include many rifles and shotguns used by hunters and target shooters in November. .READ MORE: Goalie Carey Price attacks incoming gun control billPrice said his views were his own on Monday. "The only reason I bring up this issue is because it is what's being brought up now and not out of disrespect to anyone," he said."No, I didn't agree with the promotional code either." The CCFR denied exploiting the anniversary of the École Polytechnique massacre. Rod M. Giltaca, CEO of the CCFR, said the promotional code was meant to refer to PolySeSouvient and their "constant demonizing of licensed gun owners, and their non-stop implications that we are some kind of fraudulent organization."We responded with a discount code, this was on Nov 20, not the "eve of the anniversary of the tragedy". They sat on the tweet for almost 2 weeks, then rolled it out as in their claim, knowing that no one would look at the tweet and see the date," Giltaca said. "The truth is, we didn't do what they've claimed. What we did was cheeky toward them, it was. But it was nowhere in the same universe as what they have represented.".France Margaret Belanger, the president of Montreal Canadiens parent company Groupe CH, said Price was unaware of the shooting or CCFR's recent discount code.."He was not aware of the tragic events of Dec. 6, 1989, nor of the coalition's recent marketing initiatives," said Belanger. .The Montreal Canadiens apologized for Price's comments on Monday.."The Montreal Canadiens wish to express their sincere apology to any and all who have been offended or upset by the discourse that has arisen over this matter in recent days," they said. .Price updated is original Instagram post to claim he was aware of the Polytechnique Massacre when making the original post.."I think the people of Montreal know my heart and my character and know I would never intentionally cause pain to those impacted by gun violence," he said. ."Despite a previous statement released, I did in fact know about the tragedy." .Price said he stood by the opinions he shared online, but acknowledged that, "amplifying any conversation around guns this week may have upset some of those impacted most by the events here in 1989 and to them I apologize."
