Huh. That’s a surprise. Where did you get that from?
Radio news today (CFRA). I’ll try to find a cite.
Tell him they found the Malaysian plane and watch how fast he leaves.
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.
I can confirm that.
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.
Thank you soldier! (I don’t know your rank!)
And usually gun salutes are blank rounds
Philly Flyers open tonight’s match with the Penguins by singing O Canada:
Well, shucks. Like the big softy that I am, that teared me up.
Thanks Pennsylvania, and the USA.
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?
Yeah. Too bad arm chair warriors like yourself aren’t in charge of security.
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.”
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.
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.