I think I speak for anyone who has ever gone through Canadian customs when I say, "Uhh...I'm not sure I want our current border guards armed..."

I had a similar thought.

While I am sympathetic with the position that the responsibilities of a border guard have changed and that relying on the RCMP for armed assistance is not always practical, I think the union will need to recognize that not all of their member will be suitable for the transition to police responsibilities and the obligations that go along with being armed.

Perhaps we could get rid of these employees and roll the suitable candidates into special branch of the RCMP. Unsuitable candidates could continue to fill out forms somewhere safe.

I should definitely clarify that I agree with arming some border guards -- it surprised me to find out they weren't already. But, as I said, the barely-out-of-high-school teen I once had crossing into Canada at Windsor didn't really strike me as the kind of person who should be carrying a loaded gun.