Soldier Shot, Parliament Hill Attacked

[flar]

I think it's our duty as citizens to raise awareness about the potential for abuse this incident creates.

[1overcosc]

Just heard that school lockdowns are in place as far away as Brockville.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by flar

I think it's our duty as citizens to raise awareness about the potential for abuse this incident creates.

I'm frankly more concerned by terrorist acts perpetrated by gunmen and bombers than I am by the thought that someone might scan my e-mail for certain key words.

These people do not play nice. It is a telling sign as to how soft and vulnerable we are as a country that as an assault on Parliament unfolds, we are sitting here making sure that no one's feelings get hurt.

[flar]

Originally Posted by esquire

I'm frankly more concerned by terrorist acts perpetrated by gunmen and bombers than I am by the thought that someone might scan my e-mail for certain key words.

These people do not play nice. It is a telling sign as to how soft and vulnerable we are as a country that as an assault on Parliament unfolds, we are sitting here making sure that no one's feelings get hurt.

Well, I'm in lockdown right now and not worried at all. I do have confidence in our law enforcement when it comes to stuff like this, and I think they have the tools to keep us safe. Our security was sufficient to neutralize the attackers before they could do serious damage and I'm sure they will find the other guy(s).

[Deepstar]

It's not the same thing. Sometimes innocent people get caught in a drug/gang related crime, but almost always that's not the case, whereas with terrorism, nobody knows who will be a target. There may be less deaths statistically, but it's the fear of not knowing that becomes such a problem.

And while it's true that terrorism isn't exclusive to Muslims they have a near monopoly on it when it comes to North America. It might not be fair to profile or label all Muslims as terrorist, but human nature will be human nature.

Originally Posted by Stryker

For the love of god don't be mixing your opinions with facts.

This is not a time for irrational decision making, this is more serious than that.

Terrorism isn't something exclusive to muslims.

Nor are terrorist acts anywhere in the vicinity of causing more homicides than other more traditional problems associated with immigrants(gangs, drugs wars etc)

[geotag277]

Originally Posted by esquire

I'm frankly more concerned by terrorist acts perpetrated by gunmen and bombers than I am by the thought that someone might scan my e-mail for certain key words.

These people do not play nice. It is a telling sign as to how soft and vulnerable we are as a country that as an assault on Parliament unfolds, we are sitting here making sure that no one's feelings get hurt.

The shooters were shot, and the police are doing their job. Who is being soft?

We'll never be able to prevent random violence, anyone with a gun can do a lot of damage, especially if they are mentally disturbed/unstable.

The measures needed to enact to ensure such a thing never ever has the possibility of happening is a massive forfeiture of rights, freedoms, and many of things that make living in this country great in the first place.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by geotag277

The shooters were shot, and the police are doing their job. Who is being soft?

We'll never be able to prevent random violence, anyone with a gun can do a lot of damage, especially if they are mentally disturbed/unstable.

The measures needed to enact to ensure such a thing never ever has the possibility of happening is a massive forfeiture of rights, freedoms, and many of things that make living in this country great in the first place.

Well, by the same token, who is requiring that there be a massive forfeiture of rights and freedoms?

[harls]

Leafs/Sens game might be cancelled tonight. Actually, I'm sure it will..

[Dado]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

CNN is saying Canada is telling the US there's no Islamic connection. I highly doubt that
Conversation has already happened

Well it took CNN ages to actually start reporting on the shooting... and they've been known to make all sorts of unsupported reports in the past.

[geotag277]

Originally Posted by Deepstar

It's not the same thing. Sometimes innocent people get caught in a drug/gang related crime, but almost always that's not the case, whereas with terrorism, nobody knows who will be a target. There may be less deaths statistically, but it's the fear of not knowing that becomes such a problem.

And while it's true that terrorism isn't exclusive to Muslims they have a near monopoly on it when it comes to North America. It might not be fair to profile or label all Muslims as terrorist, but human nature will be human nature.

A brief summary of recent activities in Canada tells a different story:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorism_in_Canada

All plots under the "Islam" headline were all stopped or prevented at the planning stages. In terms of actual terrorism actions, the domestic terrorism certainly is not dominated by Islamic motivations.

[Coldrsx]

MP constituency offices now all closed across the country.

[Architype]

CNN also said the Canadian Embassy in Washington is in lockdown.

[Calgarian]

I think the days of Parliament being open and accessible are over. Too bad, that was one of my favourite things about the Parliament buildings...

[Aylmer]

This is scary, don't get me wrong - I have dozens of family and friends who are in lockdown and my mum is barricaded in a board room as the RCMP searches the building for a shooter. But this is no time for hysteria. We are in more danger of being killed by a falling piano than by a mass-shooter.

We cannot wrap everything in styrofoam and we cannot give up our freedoms to protect ourselves from every bad thing which could happen. Even with every camera, checkpoint and arbitrary detention in the world, someone could still carry out an attack. Even with all of our openness and freedom, how many terrorist attacks have we had in our country? How much would we use if we constantly feared being picked up by the police for acting suspicious or not being able to walk through a park without being questioned or suspected?

[Deepstar]

Originally Posted by geotag277

A brief summary of recent activities in Canada tells a different story:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorism_in_Canada

All plots under the "Islam" headline were all stopped or prevented at the planning stages. In terms of actual terrorism actions, the domestic terrorism certainly is not dominated by Islamic motivations.

Actually it doesn't. If you mean by 'recent' incidents( threat or carried out) as being in the last few years then yes, most are Islamic related. Other than a pipeline incident from 2009, and the recent Quebec election incident, all terrorist incidents or threats have been Islamic related. I don't know the number from the U.S., but the big high profile acts or threats of recent times have been Islamic related also. I have no doubt that when people think of terrorism, Radical Muslims are the first thing that people think about.

[MalcolmTucker]

^ a security and visitor centre was already under construction as a central screening area for all visitors.

The biggest change to the precinct long term will likely be the relocation of the temporary Senate back to the main hill. The national conference centre chamber is directly adjacent to a road.

[Coldrsx]

The soldier that was shot has passed away.

[Architype]

What the appropriate response should be depends upon the identities and motives of the shooters; it's just too early to make any assumptions.

It was just reported that the soldier who was shot has died, I see as also posted above.

[SignalHillHiker]

That's so sad. Someone tweeted a picture of the two guards taken just before the shooting. Whichever one he was, he was a very young man. :-(

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

Nonetheless, I think it is extremely tacky to be doing anything even remotely partisan right now.

From your lips to the ears of the kids in short pants at the PMO.