Someone calling in to the CBC this afternoon pointed that out, that, you know, the security measures in place pretty much did exactly what they were supposed to do.
Of course, the poor guy at the cenotaph was another story, but it's an open area and the gunman snuck up behind him so there's only so much you can do about that.
The guy calling in also pointed out the security guard at the door also deserved recognition (but had been overshadowed by the Master-at-Arms, who is a boss): when the gunman showed up, he tacked the guy (while unarmed, getting shot in the foot for his trouble), while sounding the alarm (by yelling, "Gun! Gun!"), which bought the Master-at-Arms time to grab his weapon; I don't believe he's usually armed. That may change.
So one armed guy shows up at the door, is immediately tackled, and shortly thereafter is shot dead, with no innocent bystanders hurt (at Parliament, I mean; there's no security in place for the guards at the cenotaph; they are the security and I doubt anyone ever expected them to have to defend it or themselves against anything worse than drunk tourists), and, all in all, only a relatively minor wound to the one guard.
I'd say the system works pretty well as it is. I expect they will make some changes after this (they usually do, for political if not practical reasons) but I hope not too much; and I don't think too much is needed, really.
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Of course, the poor guy at the cenotaph was another story, but it's an open area and the gunman snuck up behind him so there's only so much you can do about that.
The guy calling in also pointed out the security guard at the door also deserved recognition (but had been overshadowed by the Master-at-Arms, who is a boss): when the gunman showed up, he tacked the guy (while unarmed, getting shot in the foot for his trouble), while sounding the alarm (by yelling, "Gun! Gun!"), which bought the Master-at-Arms time to grab his weapon; I don't believe he's usually armed. That may change.
So one armed guy shows up at the door, is immediately tackled, and shortly thereafter is shot dead, with no innocent bystanders hurt (at Parliament, I mean; there's no security in place for the guards at the cenotaph; they are the security and I doubt anyone ever expected them to have to defend it or themselves against anything worse than drunk tourists), and, all in all, only a relatively minor wound to the one guard.
I'd say the system works pretty well as it is. I expect they will make some changes after this (they usually do, for political if not practical reasons) but I hope not too much; and I don't think too much is needed, really.