As someone who grew up crossing the border frequently. I have mixed feelings about Customs Officers carrying weapons. You will have a tough time finding a lazier workforce in Canada. Anybody I know that has worked there that has any ambition what so ever. Coudn't take it anymore and quit. To top that off. Some of them are want to be police officers who can't pass the entry exams (I'm not in law enforcement, so I'm not sure what the entry process is).
Should Customs Officers be allowed to protect themselves? I believe so. After all their American couterparts are allowed to. Should the government be doing a better job of training these Customs Officers? Yes, it isn't fair that individuals who may never have handled a firearm before. Are required to pass firearms training in eight days.
My concern. Is that some novice rookie, (who was express trained on a the use of a firearm) may take a shot (accidently or intentionally) at a criminal. Or some hot head want to be cop, who coudn't pass the physcilogical portion of the RCMP entrance requirments and has fantasy's about shooting a criminal. Might spray stray bullets that hit innocent people.
I hope I'm wrong. But the whole idea scares me.
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