# Canadian Parliament Attacked **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 22, 2014, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149 "2014-10-22T14:18:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/41 "2014-10-22T18:04:09Z")
I’m in Ottawa at the moment, albeit in the west end. I have to venture about half way closer to the downtown core in an hour or so. I just picked my daughter up at school. The other public board is on lockdown, but not the Catholic board. And the Leaf / Sens game has been canceled. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/42 "2014-10-22T18:09:14Z")
FYI, I’m here in downtown Ottawa. We have just been released from lockdown, there will be a live press conference in the next few minutes. The soldier has passed and one shooter is dead. The police are still searching for any other suspects. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/43 "2014-10-22T18:14:11Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I blame Sarah Palin. > > Regards, > Shodan > [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > In my mind, this is how the sergeant-at-arms (Kevin Vickers) looked when he stopped the gunman: [http://www.sikhchic.com/current\_events/cms/articles/photo1/sgt-b.jpg](http://www.sikhchic.com/current_events/cms/articles/photo1/sgt-b.jpg) Is it really necessary to crack jokes right now? > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Canada hasn’t had a 9/11 or 7/7, so I doubt it beefed up security as much as the US and UK. Maybe not as much as the US and UK, but there was definitely changes made similar to other countries after 9/11. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/44 "2014-10-22T18:26:25Z")
RCMP press conference - ongoing fluid investigations, don’t have all answers yet - 9:52 reported gunfire at cenotaph - one ceremonial guard shot - several minutes later, incident reported at Center Block at the Parliament Building. - one male suspect - confirmed deceased - soldier died from injuries That’s pretty well all they are saying. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/45 "2014-10-22T18:30:52Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Originally Posted by MichaelEmouse > > In my mind, this is how the sergeant-at-arms (Kevin Vickers) looked when he stopped the gunman: [http://www.sikhchic.com/current\_even...oto1/sgt-b.jpg](http://www.sikhchic.com/current_even...oto1/sgt-b.jpg) > > Is it really necessary to crack jokes right now? Not sure this is a joke - this is a picture of the actual guy wearing his ceremonial outfit. If Parliament was in session at the time, this is what he would actually have looked like at the time of the incident (minus the ceremonial mace). ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/46 "2014-10-22T18:39:35Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > Not sure this is a joke - this is a picture of the actual guy wearing his ceremonial outfit. If Parliament was in session at the time, this is what he would actually have looked like at the time of the incident (minus the ceremonial mace). Fair enough. It was a Caucus Day so I believe he wasn’t in ceremonial dress. It may also have saved lives, otherwise session begins at 10am. > [@](#): > > Daily House business does not begin until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesdays so that Members can attend a meeting of their respective political parties in the mornings. In these meetings, known as caucus, Senators and MPs who belong to the same political party meet to discuss policy and the parliamentary agenda. Caucuses are closed meetings and there are rules of secrecy. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/47 "2014-10-22T18:51:18Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > “Obama wants to take away all of our guns so we’re as defenseless as Canada is to armed gunman.” Bet. Yeah, I’m already hearing people elsewhere blame it on Canada’s gun control laws. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/48 "2014-10-22T19:03:07Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > Is Canada aiding in airstrikes against ISIS or something? Why the hell have the jihadists launced 2 attacks in less than a week? Yes. We just sent 6 F-18s over. > [@](#): > > I’m wondering if the US is going to lock down the border, to try to keep these guys from getting into our country. Sounds like only one lone nutter at this point. No need to panic yet. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/49 "2014-10-22T19:22:54Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Yeah, I’m already hearing people elsewhere blame it on Canada’s gun control laws. To quickly play it out, for the purposes of moving the thread along: Buddy: If Canadians allowed guns, there would have been more people to shoot the crazy guy down! Cindy: It’s because the US allows guns to be bought that it’s easy for Canadians to have guns. I’ll bet you the gun that was used by the shooter was legally purchased in the US! Buddy: Even if so, he would just have bought it illegally if he couldn’t buy it legally. Or he would have built a bomb and used that. It’s not like the murder rate is any lower in the UK than in the US, despite having no guns. People kill using whatever tools they have at hand. Cindy: You can’t prove that, and this killer used a gun that he almost certainly bought from the US, so it’s the fault of Americans selling guns. Repeat last 2 points ad nauseum. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/50 "2014-10-22T19:29:46Z")
Well … apparently the one attacker we are certain about was using a long gun, which is legal to purchase in Canada, and his reign of terror was brought low after his first victim by the man in charge of security in Parliament (who was, perforce, authorized to have a weapon). Not sure how those facts play out in the US gun control debate … ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/51 "2014-10-22T19:35:37Z")
Well, I would say things are busy at my desk, but that would be a slight understatement. it’s always interesting to read the Dope and see what people on the “outside” are saying. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/52 "2014-10-22T19:36:00Z")
I thought there were many Canadians who target shoot with handguns. There is something about that in a Michael Moore film. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/53 "2014-10-22T19:39:05Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I’m sure Fox News is already scrambling to figure out how this is all Obama’s fault. > [@Sitnam](#): > > “Obama wants to take away all of our guns so we’re as defenseless as Canada is to armed gunman.” Bet. > [@Smapti](#): > > I’ll see your bet and raise you “ISIS has become emboldened because Obama refuses to put boots on the ground.” These posts are as classy as a bag of shite. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/54 "2014-10-22T19:52:37Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](#): > > These posts are as classy as a bag of shite. Meh. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/55 "2014-10-22T20:06:07Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I thought there were many Canadians who target shoot with handguns. > There is something about that in a Michael Moore film. There are a lot of misconceptions about Canadians and gun ownership, this is one. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/56 "2014-10-22T20:06:55Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](#): > > These posts are as classy as a bag of shite. > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Meh. Welcome to The Straight Dope were if you don’t slam Fox News five times a day you are not a true doper and most likely a crazy evil Republican. ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/57 "2014-10-22T20:15:11Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I thought there were many Canadians who target shoot with handguns. > There is something about that in a Michael Moore film. There are some, but it is intensely regulated and restrictive in terms of storage and use and if you are caught breaking the rules you are in very deep doo-doo. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/58 "2014-10-22T20:19:02Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](#): > > These posts are as classy as a bag of shite. Are you saying it won’t happen? ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/59 "2014-10-22T20:26:37Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > More likely this is an act of one or more local crazies. That’s what happened on Monday. [Fox news is reporting](http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/10/22/source-spike-in-isis-related-chatter-targeting-canada-leading-up-to-shooting/?intcmp=trending) that there was a spike in chatter from ISIS talking about Canada. So yeah, it appears to be terrorism. It would seem that the Canadian government didn’t take the threat seriously enough. Also, the guy on monday is reported as having been “radicalized,” and had tried to travel to Syria to join ISIS, but the RCMP stopped him and confiscated his passport. Sorry to burst your bubble, but this is definitely more than random crazies. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/60 "2014-10-22T20:28:50Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > [Fox news is reporting](http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/10/22/source-spike-in-isis-related-chatter-targeting-canada-leading-up-to-shooting/?intcmp=trending) that there was a spike in chatter from ISIS talking about Canada. So yeah, it appears to be terrorism. It would seem that the Canadian government didn’t take the threat seriously enough. > > Also, the guy on monday is reported as having been “radicalized,” and had tried to travel to Syria to join ISIS, but the RCMP stopped him and confiscated his passport. > > Sorry to burst your bubble, but this is definitely more than random crazies. “ISIS” and “random crazies” aren’t mutually incompatible. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149.md?page=4)