Time to Arm Cenotaph Guard? (split from Domestic Terrorism)

[daftandbarmy]

I'll be blunt; I think given the state of our military the entire Ceremonial Guard should be scrapped and the soldiers re-roled into training for their primary job, If we had the luxury of a military that was funded and manned where it needed to be we could afford things like CG and the Snowbirds, but it's not. However if we insist on this wasteful public relations spectacle, then give the troops proper security. On the streets of a Canadian city, that means police officers who have the appropriate training and tools to properly handle the wide variety of situations that may arise. Ottawa Police Service is the force with appropriate jurisdiction, though I'd be equally content with military police if the appropriate memorandums of understanding were in place.

I kind of agree.

I was working in Ottawa the week before the shooting. I know that hindsight is 20-20, but I wandered up to the Cenotaph for a look around and, on noticing the two sentries wayyyyy out there on their lonesome, thought it was pretty odd to have two guys so exposed.

Maslow's Law says that we should be able to pay for boots, mukluks and proper training before we invest in the 'trimmings' like a permanent ceremonial presence like that.

 

[Gunner98]

Are those shelters meant to be sun shades and rain huts or bullet-proof bunkers?  To me they look like they are made out of foam or are part of a Lego set.  Needless to say I'm not a big fan...frankly they remind me of the shelters erected (in Quinte West-Trenton) for the School Crossing Guards.

 

[geo]

Let's be honest. The cenotaph sentry thing is something new and is not a longstanding tradition.
Public duties, changing of the guard and sentries at the governor general's residence are traditions. Not so much at the cenotaph.
So.... Should we maintain it?

 

[George Wallace]

Let's be honest. The cenotaph sentry thing is something new and is not a longstanding tradition.
Public duties, changing of the guard and sentries at the governor general's residence are traditions. Not so much at the cenotaph.
So.... Should we maintain it?

Even those 'traditions' had a start somewhere; and I doubt that they date back to the original GG.

 

[geo]

Oh nooooo.... Probably back to the time of Canadian Guards.
I only brought up the point because some people will say that it's always been done VS only on Nov 11th + special occasions.
FWIW, I like the idea, though I'm less happy with the need for a civy police escort /sidekick.
Are we soon much at risk of a repeat performance from a dissatisfied nut-ball to absolutely need the nice policemen?

 

[Fishbone Jones]

If we have to arm the guards to protect themselves or pay the exorbitant ransom to the OPD, then it's time to take the guards off task. All this stuff and what ifs are pie in the sky conjecture. No one, no matter what, is going to stop a determined attacker from taking out a guard.

We couldn't do it in Afghanistan where EVERYONE was armed and hyper vigilant, and we won't stop it here. All the rest is fluff and fantasy.

Leave them there and accept the risk they may get killed or dismount the guards from their posts.

There, realistically, in no other options while attempting to keep the guards and public safe.

Still a lot of fluff and feel good being discussed. No one has addressed the only true solution as stated already.

We can't have it both ways ( or many others for that question). The discussion has been pegged. Can we or can't we? If yes, why? if no, why not? This whole discussion boils down to these two points.

Discuss.

 

[jollyjacktar]

As you put it that way recce, then, no they should not be armed.  Due to the risk to the general public at large of the guards being disarmed by one or more assailants and the C7 being used for further attacks, somewhere.  That, should make it fairly undebatable.

 

[Haggis]

To put this into perspective, the sum being paid to the Ottawa Police would fund one medium-sized Reserve unit for a year.