Letter: Leave Parliament Hill security alone

Regarding the horrible event that shook the nation last month at the National War Memorial and on Parliament Hill, I would like to challenge those who say we did not have adequate security.

Would they have a person carrying a sub-machine gun at our national monument or bar us from having free and unfettered access to the hill where our Parliament meets?

We do have adequate security and we do know what we are doing. We don’t need sub-machine guns, which if fired on the hill or at the fleeing gunman from the war memorial would have killed a few innocents and likely missed the intended target.

I would point out that the most heavily guarded residence in the free world was breached a few weeks ago when a man went for a stroll in the White House.

I also point out out that Buckingham Palace has seen an unwanted guest in the Queen’s bedroom and Windsor Castle had people walking into the party for Prince William.

Regretfully, a lone person cannot be stopped, regardless of safeguards.

What we do have on Parliament Hill is free access to both Houses of Parliament.

The Senate, guarded by Senate security and the House of Commons guarded by House of Commons security with the RCMP tasked with securing the grounds. Let’s leave it that way. It is my hill, my parliament and my way of life.

I won’t mention the man’s name who murdered Cpl. Cirillo; he doesn’t deserve to be remembered in any way. But, people like him, those who betray the land of their birth and murder those sworn to protect them, cannot be allowed to win by us giving way to fear.

Leave the security as it was on the Hill. Leave the security forces to do their job. They have everything in hand. A sober second thought should recognize that leaving things alone is the solution.

Frank Madigan
Capreol