PJ Media

My sarcasm was obviously not appreciated. Hey, even I don’t appreciate my sarcasm every day. But the article is not sloppy. I could go on for 3000 words… but this is not Ode to Border Guards or a Treatise on the Complete History of the CSBA.

1. I did not assert that the recently armed officers were of the “facebook recruits”. I pointed out that 150 were to graduate by March. Some started graduating already. And here are some recruits partying it up. I do not know the identities of the recruits since that information is not released. The Partying Recruits released their own photographs from their time attending CSBA training … so, um.. again … Recruits in training… partying in uniform… ?? I sure hope these aren’t the ones who have already graduated and are now armed, I hope those ones flunked. I should expect that older, more experienced officers received their weapons training first.

2. Firearms training along with training on appropriate times to use firearms should be much longer than 3 weeks. End of story. The RCMP have more training because it’s an integral part of their job, they don’t just attend for a few weeks then forget about weapons for the rest of the training. The CSBA had NO firearms training and then tacked on a few weeks years later… the training to become a CSBA employee should now include weapons training.

3. Being 5’4 and not in ideal shape, I’m quite certain I could lift more than 2 lbs for longer. Why? Because I’ve done it and with heavier items.

4. I completely agree that “the vast majority of front-line officers are dedicated and hard working, doing what can occasionally be an extremely risky job.” Unfortunately that’s not what this article was about. I could write 3000 words, but would you read it all? Probably not..

5. Regarding the gun fight in 2006. That is exactly why I believe all CSBA guards should be armed.

I realize you work for the CSBA in a supervisory position, so I completely understand your natural tendency to respond to this article. I hope you can understand that as someone who has spent days of her life sitting and waiting to be asked about my love life by the CSBA, I have a certain level of frustration when I read about irresponsible recruits, a line of defense hampered by administrivia and a long delay in full compliance training.

I thank you that you are a line of defense for Canada and I understand that you have had to step in and replace CSBA employees who have walked off the job. You deserve a better work environment… and apparently some better new recruits.

My points were:

1) the CSBA has been unable to properly do its job.

2) they need guns if they are expected to do their jobs.

3) the new recruits suck, apparently.

4) it’s taking too long to train the CSBA employees to use their guns.

Thank you for your feedback.

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