[Newsbot]

Title: Who is Kevin Vickers, the sergeant-at-arms who reportedly stopped the Ottawa shooting' | National Post
Category: Misc CDN
Posted By: DrCaleb
Date: 2014-10-23 06:32:41
Canadian

[GreenTiger]

Kevin Vickers is a someone to stand up for. He was exactly the right man in the right place and the right time.

He quite literally saved the day.

[Regina]

[DrCaleb]

I recall him during those Lobster fisherman conflicts and thought he was very strange because he not only kept a level head, but he seemed to want everyone to walk away happy.

[DrCaleb]

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[Regina]

[andyt]

Great guy. I thought this was a ceremonial role and they hired some old geezer for it. Didn't realize the Sgt at Arms was responsible for all security in the HOP.

Tributes pouring in from everywhere, including FNs from Burnt Church, where Vickers helped to keep the peace between FNs and SNs in a lobster fishing dispute. Apparently he's a take off your jacket roll up your sleeves kind of guy, didn't breeze in as Mr RCMP authority and was able to connect with both sides. It think Canada has acquitted itself very well in these last few days. Very little hysteria (I don't watch Sun News) have hear no excuses for what these guys did. We haven't allowed ourselves to be shaken.

[BartSimpson]

From what I understand the Sgt. at Arms is typically unarmed. When the shooting started Mr. Vickers had to go retrieve his pistol from a locked safe and then retrieve the ammunition from yet another locked safe.

Hopefully someone with some sense will reconsider this idiocy and permit the man to carry as he sees fit. He's obviously capable and responsible with the weapon.

[andyt]

There are armed personnel around at all times. He's the head guy, no real reason for him to be packing. If he didn't shoot the gunman, somebody else would have.

The reason the gunman was so easily neutralized is because he was using a Winchester 98. Bolt action, no mag. My guess is they'll have personnel with automatic weapons around from now on.

[DonHowson]

Imagine what the gunman might have been carrying if this had happened in the U.S.? Maybe there is something to be said for what type of firearms the average person can purchase and own.

[DrCaleb]

DonHowson DonHowson:

Imagine what the gunman might have been carrying if this had happened in the U.S.? Maybe there is something to be said for what type of firearms the average person can purchase and own.

Or the fact the gunman wasn't legally allowed to own any firearms.

[andyt]

Same with the US - multiple criminal convictions.

[DonHowson]

True, but the hardware that is in circulation down here and the ease with which people can obtain it, whether legally entitled to or not, is sickening.

[bootlegga]

andyt andyt:

Great guy. I thought this was a ceremonial role and they hired some old geezer for it. Didn't realize the Sgt at Arms was responsible for all security in the HOP.

Tributes pouring in from everywhere, including FNs from Burnt Church, where Vickers helped to keep the peace between FNs and SNs in a lobster fishing dispute. Apparently he's a take off your jacket roll up your sleeves kind of guy, didn't breeze in as Mr RCMP authority and was able to connect with both sides. It think Canada has acquitted itself very well in these last few days. Very little hysteria (I don't watch Sun News) have hear no excuses for what these guys did. We haven't allowed ourselves to be shaken.

The mace he carries may be ceremonial, but Sergeant-at-Arms at all Legislatures and the Parliament are anything but a ceremonial role. Likewise, the ranks of the security forces they control are mostly composed of former police/military - one of the guys on the Alberta Legislature Security force drives a Jeep with a University of Southern Afghanistan sticker on it - and all have access to weapons to defend the house if necessary.

[bootlegga]

andyt andyt:

There are armed personnel around at all times. He's the head guy, no real reason for him to be packing. If he didn't shoot the gunman, somebody else would have.

The reason the gunman was so easily neutralized is because he was using a Winchester 98. Bolt action, no mag. My guess is they'll have personnel with automatic weapons around from now on.

They already do - watch the video of the shoot-out in the Hall of Honour - at least one officer was carrying an MP-5. Additionally, the RCMP and City of Ottawa have plenty of officers with assault rifles.