Canada's border guards abandon their posts

[Montgomery Burns]

Liberal Party refuses to arm border guards

This is so embarrassing. How much longer will the Liberal Party continue to make Canada the laughing stock of the world?

It started with the shooting Friday night of a New York State trooper near Plattsburgh.  When an alert was sent to Canadian customs agents in Quebec warning of an "armed and dangerous" suspect, some 50 employees walked off the job for four hours at about 15 of 44 border crossings just before 9 a.m. yesterday.

[...]

Meanwhile at the border crossings, the protesting agents were exercising their right under the Canada Labour Code to withdraw services if they feel their life or health is threatened.

"We're not armed, we're not going to be a target," said Jean-Pierre Fortin, a union spokesperson. The union wants the federal government to supply border agents with sidearms. Ottawa says the agents' bulletproof vests, telescopic batons and pepper spray are sufficient.

Pepper spray versus bullets. Good grief!

[cybercoma]

Living in Windsor I have 4 friends who are border guards. Being right on the border with Detroit, Michigan we see a lot of crazy crap come through the border. Three out of the four people I know actually DON'T want to carry guns. They feel their lives would be in even more danger if they had them.

[Argus]

Living in Windsor I have 4 friends who are border guards.  Being right on the border with Detroit, Michigan we see a lot of crazy crap come through the border.  Three out of the four people I know actually DON'T want to carry guns.  They feel their lives would be in even more danger if they had them.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As I understand it this is a play by the union, which believes if it can get them armed it can move for police-like salaries and benefits.

[Shakeyhands]

I really don't see a problem with arming our border guards. In fact it seems a sensible thing to do when you consider their jobs.

Edit*

We have to keep in mind what their jobs really are, it isn't all just about asking about cigarettes, taxable goods and alcohol.

[cybercoma]

Living in Windsor I have 4 friends who are border guards.  Being right on the border with Detroit, Michigan we see a lot of crazy crap come through the border.  Three out of the four people I know actually DON'T want to carry guns.  They feel their lives would be in even more danger if they had them.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As I understand it this is a play by the union, which believes if it can get them armed it can move for police-like salaries and benefits.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ah yes, the truth comes out.

[cybercoma]

I really don't see a problem with arming our border guards.  In fact it seems a sensible thing to do when you consider their jobs. 

Edit*

We have to keep in mind what their jobs really are, it isn't all just about asking about cigarettes, taxable goods and alcohol.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

On the contrary, the government doesn't want them to be police.

[FTA Lawyer]

I have to agree with Burns on this one...

Regardless of whether there are union ulterior motives here or not, the nature of the job dictates the officers should have sidearms.

If some officers feel they don't want to be armed, then they may be forced to find other employment.

I look at the court security officers known as "CAPS" officers in Alberta. There could be no more safe and controlled environment for a peace officer than one where everyone you deal with is already handcuffed and shackled.

If ever a peace officer could be safe with only batons and pepper spray, I suggest this is the situation...but CAPS officers all have a standard issue 9mm Glock on their hip.

Why then, would anyone consider it safe for a border-crossing officer, who is in the same random contact with the same dangerous elements of the public that any RCMP or city police officer would be to have no sidearm?

When you as a citizen are the target of a mugging or an armed robbery...the best advice is to simply comply with the offender...do not attempt to stop or apprehend them. If we want our border patrol to be these compliant citizen-victims when faced with a drug or weapon smuggler, or a fleeing murderer etc., then maybe no guns is the right choice.

I however, would like to think that border patrol officers should be just one more cog in the law-enforcement system, and that they should be equipped and expected to intervene with a purpose...for that, they should be armed...even if it means we pay them a little more.

FTA Lawyer.