# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/81 "2014-10-23T00:04:57Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Not armed actually. Ceremonial arms only. (Not loaded.) Huh. That’s a surprise. Where did you get that from? ---
**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 23, 2014, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/82 "2014-10-23T00:12:21Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Huh. That’s a surprise. Where did you get that from? Radio news today (CFRA). I’ll try to find a cite. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/83 "2014-10-23T00:14:12Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Anderson’s here! Well, we’ve finally arrived. Tell him they found the Malaysian plane and watch how fast he leaves. ---
**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 23, 2014, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/84 "2014-10-23T00:21:58Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Tell him they found the Malaysian plane and watch how fast he leaves. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/85 "2014-10-23T00:22:00Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Huh. That’s a surprise. Where did you get that from? We carry weapons but not rounds while on ceremonial duties, barring occasions for gun salutes. ---
**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 23, 2014, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/86 "2014-10-23T00:32:18Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Not armed actually. Ceremonial arms only. (Not loaded.) > [@Frank](#): > > Huh. That’s a surprise. Where did you get that from? > [@Leaffan](#): > > Radio news today (CFRA). I’ll try to find a cite. > [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > We carry weapons but not rounds while on ceremonial duties, barring occasions for gun salutes. The Mayor of Ottawa, Jim Watson, just stated on CNN to AC that the ceremonial guards are unarmed. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/87 "2014-10-23T00:33:49Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Radio news today (CFRA). I’ll try to find a cite. I can confirm that. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/88 "2014-10-23T00:35:40Z")
I really hope that all the “this changes everything” rhetoric I heard on the radio today tones down a bit and we won’t let this thug change who we are. Also, I’m slightly disappointed that the Sargeant-at-Arms reportedly took down the gunman with a pistol rather than with his ceremonial mace. ---
**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 23, 2014, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/89 "2014-10-23T00:36:20Z")
> [@Poysyn](#): > > I can confirm that. Thank you soldier! (I don’t know your rank!) ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/90 "2014-10-23T00:36:28Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > We carry weapons but not rounds while on ceremonial duties, barring occasions for gun salutes. And usually gun salutes are blank rounds ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/91 "2014-10-23T00:52:21Z")
Philly Flyers open tonight’s match with the Penguins by singing O Canada: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DVDHLfwngvE/hqdefault.jpg "O Canada at Penguins-Flyers") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVDHLfwngvE) ---
**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 23, 2014, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/92 "2014-10-23T00:58:37Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Philly Flyers open tonight’s match with the Penguins by singing O Canada: > > [http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DVDHLfwngvE](http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DVDHLfwngvE) Well, shucks. Like the big softy that I am, that teared me up. Thanks Pennsylvania, and the USA. ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/93 "2014-10-23T01:14:33Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > An armed soldier was killed, by surprise, at point-blank range, while on ceremonial guard duty at a War Memorial surrounded by busy downtown streets. The murderer of that soldier was killed as he tried (and failed) to penetrate Parliament. What level of seriousness on the part of the Canadian government do you suggest could have prevented this? If you ask me, he penetrated Parliament just fine- to the tune of getting dropped by no less than the Sergeant-at-Arms while the MPs he was guarding saw it prudent to pile their chairs against the door. To me, that’s bullshit and totally unacceptable. I can understand that we can’t do much about protecting soldiers in public from surprise attacks, but the fact that this lunatic wasn’t shot dead a third of the way up the Parliament steps is a disgrace. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/94 "2014-10-23T01:20:10Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > In Canada? > 🙂 😉 ---
**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 23, 2014, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/95 "2014-10-23T01:27:00Z")
> [@Shamozzle](#): > > If you ask me, he penetrated Parliament just fine- to the tune of getting dropped by no less than the Sergeant-at-Arms while the MPs he was guarding saw it prudent to pile their chairs against the door. > > To me, that’s bullshit and totally unacceptable. > > I can understand that we can’t do much about protecting soldiers in public from surprise attacks, but the fact that this lunatic wasn’t shot dead a third of the way up the Parliament steps is a disgrace. I’m not sure where you’re from. This guy managed to go to a staff entrance, not the main public entrance. The staff entrance is manned by two armed guards. This guy went through the entrance with his gun blazing, shooting one armed guard in the leg and making the other one dive for cover. Parliament hill has always been open and a place for the public. The place is packed on Canada Day for concerts and fireworks, for example. Twenty years ago you could drive your car up there, but that changed after some dude hijacked a bus and drove it across the lawn. We’ve prided ourselves on accessible politics and public access to parliament. It doesn’t take much to enter the buildings and even attend question period. This might be a wake up call, unfortunately, and I’m sure access to the staff entrance will change now, among other things, but at what point do you give up all freedoms? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/96 "2014-10-23T01:27:43Z")
> [@Shamozzle](#): > > If you ask me, he penetrated Parliament just fine- to the tune of getting dropped by no less than the Sergeant-at-Arms while the MPs he was guarding saw it prudent to pile their chairs against the door. > > To me, that’s bullshit and totally unacceptable. Yeah. Too bad arm chair warriors like yourself aren’t in charge of security. ---
**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 23, 2014, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/97 "2014-10-23T01:36:29Z")
Did he get by armed guards, or ceremonial guards with unloaded weapons? ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/98 "2014-10-23T01:39:52Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Did he get by armed guards, or ceremonial guards with unloaded weapons? Assuming you’re being snarky… Those “guards” were guarding a stone statue. Think “museum guard,” not “bodyguard.” ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/99 "2014-10-23T01:46:25Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Assuming you’re being snarky… Those “guards” were guarding a stone statue. Think “museum guard,” not “bodyguard.” I assume he meant getting into parliament, but it’s not totally clear how far in he got. The shootout could have happened at the metal detectors. We don’t know if he “got by” anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/100 "2014-10-23T01:55:34Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Assuming you’re being snarky… Those “guards” were guarding a stone statue. Think “museum guard,” not “bodyguard.” The soldier that was shot was part of a ceremonial honour guard at the War Memorial/Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. They stand vigil, and are not actually there for security. Parliament, on other hand, is guarded by armed security detail, but the building is open to the public and for tours. There will be an investigation and examination of security protocols, as stated earlier today by various Ottawa officials. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149.md?page=6)