[Buckeye McFrog]

All these years and I never knew that being Sergeant At Arms meant that you were actually armed.

[RansomOttawa]

All these years and I never knew that being Sergeant At Arms meant that you were actually armed.

Vickers is an RCMP veteran, and in addition to his ceremonial duties, the Sergeant-at-arms is also responsible for the security of Parliament. Apparently he's been trying to get the guards on the Hill armed. Something tells me that he has been anticipating a situation like this, and that he'll probably get his wish.

[GeronL]

I would have thought that position had become purely ceremonial over the years