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Of Sergeants-at-Arms and Honour Guards
You know, until yesterday, I though the position of Sergeant-At-Arms in Canada’s House of Commons was largely ceremonial – a retirement perk to the politically connected; that the man who wears antiquated costumes and carries a golden mace into Parliament is little more than an actor. One of the gratifying thinks I learned yesterday, in that otherwise horrible day, is that I was wrong: that it is a serious job, held by a serious man, with long experience as a peace officer, who is also properly armed to face real trouble. He is far more than just a play-actor.
On the other hand, pictures taken at the War Memorial immediately prior to the shooting showed two Canadian soldiers, both real soldiers – not actors, and both armed with serious weapons – the C-7 assault rifle. When the Islamofascist murdered Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, his fellow guardsman could not retaliate. He was helpless in the face of the enemy. The magazines of their C-7’s were empty, no doubt for reasons of safety.
Now in the military, there are many times when it is absolutely necessary for a soldier to not possess any ammunition; for instance, in a training exercise when he must shoot at other soldiers with blanks. In this case, it is absolute necessary for the officers running the exercise to inspect all weapons and magazines to make sure that no live rounds are present that could turn a training exercise into tragedy. Also, the military must keep a tight control over its firearms, magazines and ammunition; otherwise, the army will turn into a grab-bag for black-market gun dealers. Still, if we are going to post men on guard duty, they should be properly equipped to actually do real guard duty.
Now it can be argued that guarding the War Memorial is not ‘real’ guard duty but is just a ceremonial show, much like the redcoats with their black bearskin hats who guard Buckingham Palace. Nothing can be served, so this line of thinking goes, by adding live ammunition into the activity that is more for the benefit of tourists than anything else.
I think the prevalence of this sort of logic speaks volumes about the unseriousness of our society. People who reason like this don’t really believe that there are real threats in the world. These people believe, as Col. Jeff Cooper once pointed out, “that food comes from the grocery store, that safety comes from the policeman, and that bad news is something that happens to other people.” This delusion is inculcated by a too-long period of peace and prosperity. Our primitive minds often cannot handle good fortune. We end up indulging in fantasy.
Atrocities like this remind us that the people of the West need to start getting serious about life. Among other things, one thing we need to do is that if we say we are going to guard something (even if it is just for ceremonial reasons), we should damn well do it for real.
Published in General
Sergeant-At-Arms Kevin Vickers is a hero, no doubt about it. Watch his reception in Parliament after the incident (second video down): http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2804397/Canadian-sergeant-arms-58-hailed-hero-shooting-dead-terrorist-Zehaf-Bibeau-exchange-gunfire-30-year-career.html
I suspect the War Memorial guards’ magazines will not be empty for too much longer.
I just learned a few moments ago that their rifles were not loaded. That’s pretty upsetting.
One’s heart goes out to the other soldier who has to live with the knowledge that he had a 50% chance of being the target.
Just reported: The other soldier chased after the gunman, and turned back to administer CPR on Cpl. Cirillo.
That, or the position of War Memorial honour guard will be eliminated as non-essential…
(The Chief of Defense Staff confirmed that the honour guard is suspended for the time being.)
In 2003, my then-teenage middle son was in Civil Air Patrol as a cadet. They met at the Texas Air National Guard portion of Ellington Field, near where we lived. We passed gate guards armed with M-16s (or M-4s) to get to the meeting. I would stop for the guards, show identification, and provide a reason for entering the base.
Prior to the invasion of Iraq, I noticed the rifled lacked magazines. I grumbled about scarecrows to my son. The day after the US invaded Iraq, I drove my son to his meeting. The weapons had magazines. I was especially polite that day. But, I was glad they were no longer scarecrows.
Seawriter
I recall a few years ago our President – I believe it was Obama, may have been Bush – made a big show of sending the National Guard to the border to temporarily “assist” the Border Patrol. It turned out the Guardsmen were prohibited from carrying any ammunition for their weapons and each one had to be babysat by a Border Patrol agent rather than allowing that person to do their job.
Depressing, but unfortunately none too surprising. To turtle seems to be the default impulse for too many these days:
I’m about to hop onto my monthly teleconference with the Brigade Commander in Ottawa. Cpl Cirillo wasn’t in our Brigade, the honour guard being a function that is shared around different units nationally. Clearly, though, there’s going to be some discussion. Will share what I can.
Oh, and there’s no surprise that their weapons weren’t loaded. I’ve never in my career been in a parade with live rounds. Blank maybe from time to time, but live, never. The risk management equation just isn’t worth it, all symbolism aside. You’d be shocked at the number of ND’s that happen, and to have one in a public place would be a mess.
You hit the nail squarely on the head. I am reminded of watching the British production of Life on Mars when a typical squirrelly perp pulled a gun on two unarmed police men and they were immediately reduced to hiding in a car and begging for their lives. We laughed until our sides hurt and then played it a couple of more times. The American case for armed policemen made so eloquently and baldly in a British production was disarming enough, but there was also the assumption we made that the issue is so dead across the pond that the scene is received without irony by contemporary British audiences (with the possible exception of the “Asian” Jihadis).
In my humble opinion, it is cowardly and stupid for your armed forces to be out of uniform and unarmed. Superior training should keep accidents to a minimum. Do you think the female Israeli soldiers’ weapons are unloaded?
I believe the night sentries at Buckingham Palace do carry live rounds. There is an armed police presence on the palace grounds at all times.
Well, maybe twenty or thirty years ago – before western nations stupidly let hordes of Muslims flood their borders – it was not necessary for these kinds of ceremonial guards to be armed. But in these days of “spontaneous jihad”, that is not longer true. Funny you mention the redcoat guards at Buckingham palace – I hate to say it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if some jihadi doesn’t take a shot at one of them one of these days – soon.
It makes sense for ceremonial guards to not be armed. Unlike actual guards, they are required to ignore people. In such a situation, there is a massively increased risk of having one’s loaded weapon taken and used against oneself.
Why not give these guards concealable deadly force options? Don’t make a big deal about how they’re armed. But give them the training and means to perform like the sergent at arms.
Btw. Heard that he had to unlock the weapon (implies a safe?). He should be wearing a weapon.
There are armed guards all over the building. In fact, there was one at the front door when the gunman came in. According to reports, that guard did not fire because there were civilians about. The strategy was to herd the gunman to a part of the hall that was secure and unoccupied.
Thank you. Good info.
One would expect ceremonial troops to have sufficient attention to detail to be able to avoid AD’s. OTOH, things like this can happen.
http://youtu.be/o9q7b_2tkMo?t=2m25s