# 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:** 6
**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, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/101 "2014-10-23T01:56:38Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > 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. Look at post number 95. ---
**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, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/102 "2014-10-23T02:06:17Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Look at post number 95. 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, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/103 "2014-10-23T02:09:14Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Where did you get that from? I live in Ottawa. The news radio reports are coming out faster than the newspaper reports. ---
**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, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/104 "2014-10-23T02:13:44Z")
Thank you, Poysyn. No, Jkellymap, I am woefully ignorant of Canada, despite The Band having Canadian members, with one guy from my beloved state of Arkansas, [Levon Helm](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levon_Helm). ---
**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, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/105 "2014-10-23T02:13:54Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I’m not sure where you’re from. I’m Canadian. > [@Leaffan](#): > > 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. Right. Unacceptable. > [@Leaffan](#): > > 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? Well, at least to the point where a single kamikaze gunman doesn’t have reasonable prospect for penetrating deep enough to get shot by the dude with the nutmeg, sorry, mace, while the people who govern 30+ million pile chairs against the door. Good thing he wasn’t in the bathroom at the moment. Disgraceful. ---
**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, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/106 "2014-10-23T02:15:32Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Yeah. Too bad arm chair warriors like yourself aren’t in charge of security. Surely, you’ve got something substantive? ---
**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, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/107 "2014-10-23T02:18:35Z")
> [@Shamozzle](#): > > I’m Canadian. > Right. Unacceptable. > > Well, at least to the point where a single kamikaze gunman doesn’t have reasonable prospect for penetrating deep enough to get shot by the dude with the nutmeg, sorry, mace, while the people who govern 30+ million pile chairs against the door. Good thing he wasn’t in the bathroom at the moment. > > Disgraceful. Hey, I have an awesome idea! Let’s put you in charge of security at Parliament hill, since you obviously know what’s acceptable and what’s not. ---
**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, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/108 "2014-10-23T02:18:59Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I live in Ottawa. The news radio reports are coming out faster than the newspaper reports. I live in Ottawa too. I am not believing much of the fast and furious rumour reporting going on for the first 24 hours though. Which station did you hear it on? ---
**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, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/109 "2014-10-23T02:19:08Z")
> [@Shamozzle](#): > > Disgraceful. Oh, Hell. The guy did well. Nobody knew there was a bad guy until the bad guy shot someone, and this guy took him out. ---
**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, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/110 "2014-10-23T02:20:06Z")
> [@Shamozzle](#): > > Surely, you’ve got something substantive? Why? You don’t. ---
**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, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/111 "2014-10-23T02:25:56Z")
I’m waiting for someone to show me I don’t. ---
**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, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/112 "2014-10-23T02:27:29Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I live in Ottawa too. I am not believing much of the fast and furious rumour reporting going on for the first 24 hours though. Which station did you hear it on? CFRA I believe. I mean, I’m not making the story up about the staff entrance, so stay tuned for the papers to catch up tomorrow. I’m not sure if you’re questioning CFRA or me on this. ---
**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, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/113 "2014-10-23T02:33:08Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Hey, I have an awesome idea! Let’s put you in charge of security at Parliament hill, since you obviously know what’s acceptable and what’s not. You’re saying I’m wrong, then? That it’s acceptable? Or beyond anticipation, maybe? ---
**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, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/114 "2014-10-23T02:36:18Z")
I am questioning CFRA, if anything. I am just holding back on believing early reporting. Everyone is way to anxious to report every story they hear. If it’s on the CBC or CTV national news tonight I’ll believe it - depending on their caveats. CBC doesn’t seem to have that version of events online yet. ---
**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, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/115 "2014-10-23T02:43:20Z")
> [@Shamozzle](#): > > You’re saying I’m wrong, then? That it’s acceptable? Or beyond anticipation, maybe? It’s unfortunate, but how do you anticipate every single threat everywhere at every level. A lone gunman at a secured and armed staff entrance was no doubt not anticipated. Things will change somehow now, but I’m not sure how: perhaps a pre-screening earlier on? > [@CarnalK](#): > > I am questioning CFRA, if anything. I am just holding back on believing early reporting. Everyone is way to anxious to report every story they hear. If it’s on the CBC or CTV national news tonight I’ll believe it - depending on their caveats. CBC doesn’t seem to have that version of events online yet. You’ll believe CTV or CBC but not CFRA? Ya. OK. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/116 "2014-10-23T02:44:10Z")
> [@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) Nice to see. I’ll echo **Leaffan** : my thanks for that go to 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, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/117 "2014-10-23T02:50:36Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > It’s unfortunate, but how do you anticipate every single threat everywhere at every level. You don’t, but I’m not suggesting that. You can’t anticipate aliens or the Cheshire Cat. You can anticipate a lone, kamikaze gunman. > [@Leaffan](#): > > A lone gunman at a secured and armed staff entrance was no doubt not anticipated. Then WTF were the guards doing there, then? Photo ops for tourists ala Buckingham Palace guards? ---
**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, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/118 "2014-10-23T02:51:42Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Oh, Hell. > The guy did well. Nobody knew there was a bad guy until the bad guy shot someone, and this guy took him out. Yep, lots of respect to that man. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/119 "2014-10-23T02:54:46Z")
> [@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. Actually what struck me was the fact that the doors didn’t have positive stops on them. It’s stupid easy to make a door impenetrable (assuming the door itself is sturdy). just a steel pipe sticking out of the floor is enough to keep a battering ram from taking down a solid oak structure. ---
**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, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149/120 "2014-10-23T02:58:43Z")
> [@Shamozzle](#): > > You don’t, but I’m not suggesting that. You can’t anticipate aliens or the Cheshire Cat. You can anticipate a lone, kamikaze gunman. > > Then WTF were the guards doing there, then? Photo ops for tourists ala Buckingham Palace guards? There are armed guards at the entrance to a lot of federal facilities, including the one where I work at Chalk River. But, let’s face it, day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year with nothing ever happening a level of complacency is reached, and especially in Canada, of all places. So, like I said, changes will be made at Parliament hill, but don’t you think you’d get complacent after maybe 25 years on the job and NOTHING ever happening? Come on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-parliament-attacked/702149.md?page=7)