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Two gunmen killed, six officers wounded in shootout at Canadian bank

44 Comments
By Kevin Light

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Saanich is a suburb of Victoria, BC's capital. Mentioning the US state of Washington is irrelevant. Good story, though, but weird to see it on JT. I watched it happen.

Messed up stuff. Just heard from my parents who live nearby and they were driving by as it happened, they got re-directed by the police on Shelbourne.

Not stuff that often happens in Victoria.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I blame the bank robbers. Imagine that. The people who started the illegal activity should be blamed, not inanimate objects.

The robbers are entirely at fault.

But the means for them to be able to do it came from the legal gun market in America. Canada has no say in it, yet Canadian citizens are murdered with said guns. Not exactly responsible neighbors in that regards. America should do a better job of keeping its toxicity to itself. Better patrolling of the borders to ensure guns are not smuggled over them into Canada, and extremely hard penalties by America for any Americans trying to smuggle guns into Canada.

That's what a responsible neighbor would do.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I blame the bank robbers. Imagine that. The people who started the illegal activity should be blamed, not inanimate objects.

I've never, ever, seen a gun shoot without a human responsible. First principals.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Crime is skyrocketing in Canada

Is it? By how much? What degree in change, and from what point are you using as a reference?

Because if I were a betting man, I'd bet you made that statement out of rhetoric, and not actually any basis in data.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Hunting rifles are the only guns that would have any necessity in this country.

Well, that’s one outsiders personal point of view.

Heh, Actually, that's the insider's point of view. Literally, the head of the nation:

"Other than using firearms for sport shooting and hunting, there is no reason anyone in Canada should need guns in their everyday lives," Mr Trudeau told reporters.

Justin Trudeau, May 30, 2022
0 ( +1 / -1 )

And as everyone knows by now, socialism can be summed up in one phrase; "I want what you have".

I just want to point out for our new readers here that the above usage of "Socialism" is not using the word according to it's English-dictionary usage, but rather is the American-right-wing-extremist dialectic usage of the word. While in English, it's a common socioeconomic philosophy employed by some of the happiest nations with the highest qualities of life indexes (look at Canada and the Nordic countries), whereas in the American-right-wing-extremist dialectic use of the word, it refers to a sort of catch-all like the boogeyman, to whom all evils of humanity can be attributed.

Once you realize they are homynyms, and not the same word, you realize they aren't speaking gibberish, they're just talking about the boogeyman. That's all.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Well, that’s one outsiders personal point of view.

Outsider? Keep up man.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I blame the mechanisms of hyper-capitalist financialization ie money, the root of all evil.

Of course, only socialists speak like this. Because they don't have money.

And as everyone knows by now, socialism can be summed up in one phrase; "I want what you have".

They are almost always either dirt-poor budding "poets" etc. just using their barista salary to pay the rent, or poor teachers with a captive audience.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Saanich is a suburb of Victoria, BC's capital. Mentioning the US state of Washington is irrelevant. Good story, though, but weird to see it on JT. I watched it happen.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

AntiquesavingToday  06:36 pm JST

Do you people ever look up facts before posting!

Yes, doesn't everyone?

Crime is not on the rise, it is actually declining over the past few years, (again information easily available on stats Canada site, RCMP site and most major news outlets).

The only crimes on the rise are gun related because of illegal guns from the USA, ( again all information is online on the same sites as above.)

Gun crimes rising:

https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-shouldnt-be-smug-about-gun-violence-its-a-growing-problem-here-too

Violent crimes rising 6 out of last 7 years:

https://www.statista.com/statistics/525634/violent-crime-severity-index-in-canada/

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Hunting rifles are the only guns that would have any necessity in this country.

Well, that’s one outsiders personal point of view.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

painkiller

Today 05:26 pm JST

Crime is skyrocketing in Canada, and the violence is disrupting many communities there.

> Canada needs to do something so as to prevent non-law abiding citizens from having access to guns.

Do you people ever look up facts before posting!

Crime is not on the rise, it is actually declining over the past few years, (again information easily available on stats Canada site, RCMP site and most major news outlets).

The only crimes on the rise are gun related because of illegal guns from the USA, ( again all information is online on the same sites as above.)

Now if more guns was the answer then the USA would be the safest place on the planet and we know it isn't, so please stop with the "good guy with a gun" junk it is false, proven false and also stop with the fear mongering, crime is not up Murder is not up and there is no "skyrocketing crime " in Canada.

My 80+ year old parents still don't lock the front door during the day.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Aly, believe it or not I am from a similar world- rural Ontario, grew up plinking beer bottles with a 22, enjoyed helping myself to the good stuff my friends brought home from hunting. Except bear, never could acquire a taste for it.

Also believe it or not, I do NOT want Canada to have the same gun freedoms and rights as our neighbours to the south. I am reasonably content with the laws as they are now regarding possession and so on. Trudeau needs to concentrate on two things IMHO- much harsher penalties for use of a firearm in a crime (10 year mandatory sentence would suit me) and even harsher for gun smugglers. The CBSA should stop worrying about who has a carton or two too many smokes and worry more about guns coming into the country. No need to ban all guns by any means.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Crime is skyrocketing in Canada, and the violence is disrupting many communities there.

Canada needs to do something so as to prevent non-law abiding citizens from having access to guns.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Aly, it will never happen. And never should happen. Guns are not a problem in Canada. Criminals are.

But when criminals have access to them they are a problem.

The homicide rate in Canada has been dropping since 1990. I don't want a free-for-all system like our cousins to the south have by any means, but I am comfortable with good people having access to guns.

Yes but the problem is its not only the good people that have access to them.

Canada has very strict laws, the problem is the USA doesn't and we have the longest undefended border in the world.

Fair enough brother

Hunting rifles are the only guns that would have any necessity in this country.

agree. My father was a hunter and taught me how to shoot when I was a small kid. My 11th birthday, Dad woke me up and gave me my first gun and took me hunting. I have 0 problems with hunting- in fact I would buy a rifle and hunt deer here in Japan as they are pests and I LOVE venison above all other meats. but handguns should not be in the hands of civilians. Want to protect your family, do what I did. I learned martial arts, got my wife and kids involved in it AND bought a home gym and got my wife into strength training

We don't need guns to protect ourselves as long as the bad guys don't have them either. Hunting is different. I would love to hunt deer and wild boar here in Japan.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Antiquie, you may be right. Back when I was at university, my housemate wanted to be an OPP officer. He did his degree in law before applying and then going through basic training. I think most places in Canada generally the police have at least a college degree along with their basic training. And the provincial police or RCMP are usually more strict about it than local forces.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Leave the U.S. out of your mouth. No connection.

Where do you think the guns came from? America's legal gun market supplies Canada's illegal gun market. Trying to say there is no connection to America is the same ostrich in the head approach as trying to pretend America's war on drugs hasn't directly led to the rise of the cartels in Mexico.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Leave the U.S. out of your mouth. No connection. I'm glad the two gunmen will be pushing up daisies soon and no officers have died. Speedy recovery to all of them.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Holy cr@p, my parents live just a few blocks from that exact bank. Gotta give them a call.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

The RCMP officers responded to this with more courage than the Uvalde cops. Actually, I find it a little disturbing how much force and firepower the authorities put towards bank robberies when they are putting the public at great risk of being caught in the crossfire. I'm not suggesting they just let these criminals escape, but the money isn't hard to track down in most cases. Besides, I'm sure the bank gets refunded by some insurance company anyways.

I'm wondering if this incident will push Trudeau to make a digital currency for Canada.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Lets clarify a few things, handguns, assault rifle, etc.. are illegal for the most part in Canada.

A few exceptions exist for non police and military and those a rare and usually temporary.

Guns related crimes have been on the rise,

Between 2015 and 2020 gun related crimes increased by 20% over the years 2009 to 2014.

The guns are nearly always "legally purchased in the USA and smuggled into Canada for illegal resale at high prices.

All the above is available on public safety Canada site, Stats Canada's site, RCMP, OPP, QPP (in French).

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Aly Rustom

Today 01:47 pm JST

time for Canada to ban all guns.

> Its not the US

Canada has very strict laws, the problem is the USA doesn't and we have the longest undefended border in the world.

I could get an American to buy a load of guns, drive to Lake Memphremagog in Vermont, load them in a boat going "fishing" troll into Quebec switch to another boat and head back as the guns head to shore in Quebec Canada on their way to Toronto street gangs.

That is just one example BC has hundreds of similar places, as do all the other provinces on the border.

Recent reports by the RCMP, OPP, QPP all point to guns being smuggled in from the USA.

The buyer are referred to as straw buyers and usually buy at gun shows.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

There is zero need for handguns in Canada.

Hunting rifles are the only guns that would have any necessity in this country.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Aly, it will never happen. And never should happen. Guns are not a problem in Canada. Criminals are. The homicide rate in Canada has been dropping since 1990. I don't want a free-for-all system like our cousins to the south have by any means, but I am comfortable with good people having access to guns.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Just a thought, but with everything going cashless, there can't be much in it for robbers these days.

(Obviously not talking about cash-based Japan)

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Then again, they ARE much better trained than most of their colleagues south of the border. Basic police training in BC is anything from 40 to 44 weeks.

In Quebec police must first attend a 3 year college (CEGEP) in criminology. Then 6 months at the provincial police academy.

And still they are a little drunk on power, but all and all the police in Quebec now compared to before they needed CEGEP is night and day.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

time for Canada to ban all guns.

Its not the US

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

I think warmongers, especially those supporting nations invading other nations and cheering them on as they slaughter civilian populations should look in the mirror.

I doubt that plays any significant role or that is really their thought process, I think these individuals are insecure and running on a power trip and pushing themselves to undertake this kind of task in the hopes of gaining some respect.

-10 ( +1 / -11 )

And yes it was an attempted robbery of a Bank of Montreal branch in the town. Just thieves getting what they deserved.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I blame guns!

I blame any and all idiots that think they can actually take the police on or elude crime altogether.

-12 ( +1 / -13 )

Good to see the police back home actually do their job (ahem, Uvalde...) and put rounds downrange on the bad guys. Nice shooting to get the perps even though they were in body armour. Then again, they ARE much better trained than most of their colleagues south of the border. Basic police training in BC is anything from 40 to 44 weeks.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

You know it's B.C. when a random photo of the scene can't help but capture the last letters of our leafy friend "nabis" in the corner.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Dead bank robbers

Was it really an attempted robbery ?

The article doesn't actually say robbery .

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

they just get inspiration from USA.is anything wrong with this comment since its reality?

-11 ( +1 / -12 )

3RENSHO

Today 12:58 pm JST

"I'm keeping the police officers who were injured in today's shooting - and their colleagues who also rushed towards danger to keep people safe - in my thoughts," Trudeau said....Yes, of course! that is, until the very next instant in real time whereupon another thought passes into his vapid consciousness, and he becomes distracted in real time [like every other stupid-phone-carrying ethereal denizen...]

Well he will until the next event calling for defunding the police or if the dead bank robbers turn out not to be w..... and we get the accusations of police using to much force because they knew the guys were XYZ and not W.

Then wishy-washy JT will flip flop as usual.

-10 ( +3 / -13 )

Good riddance to the wasted of human beings that are the gunmen. Fat lot of good they did for the world while alive. Wonder where they got the guns from? Hope the officers recover completely and people involved and nation can move on.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

Excellent shooting guys, but I never did like that open stock on the A4.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

they just get inspiration from their neigbour-beacon of democracy and world leader.

> Indeed, Russia, though no beacon of democracy, but a current world leader is not that far away from Vancouver Island, one of the more beautiful places on the planet. Russian hero Stalin was himself a bank robber.

Please stop, I really mean stop!

Canada has had serious gun violence in recent years after a long period of peace once stricter guns laws took effect.

The uptick in guns is 100% due to easy access in the USA by straw buyers at gun shows and states with easy gun access.

Then they smuggle the guns into Canada for higher profits in illegal sales.

Russia has nothing to do with this, the USA has everything and once the police trace the weapons they will find they originated in the USA the capital of murder, mass shootings of the developed world.

The New Brunswick shootings, the Dawson college shootings all had guns or gun part illegally brought into Canada from the USA, not Russia the USA,

-7 ( +6 / -13 )

The amount of bank robberies that end in the suspects deaths makes it seem like such a stupid thing to try. So few of them work out in history and especially modern times where the money is easily tracked and traced if you do make it out. If it was 200 years ago or some lawless Nomans land sure… but your better off begging for scraps if you want to live

6 ( +8 / -2 )

they just get inspiration from their neigbour-beacon of democracy and world leader.

Indeed, Russia, though no beacon of democracy, but a current world leader is not that far away from Vancouver Island, one of the more beautiful places on the planet. Russian hero Stalin was himself a bank robber.

-1 ( +9 / -10 )

Hats off to the police who put their lives at risk every day protecting citizens who want to live peacefully.

I blame Hollywood movies.

I think warmongers, especially those supporting nations invading other nations and cheering them on as they slaughter civilian populations should look in the mirror.

9 ( +17 / -8 )

Emergency response team members arrived on the scene at the Bank of Montreal in Saanich

I blame the mechanisms of hyper-capitalist financialization ie money, the root of all evil.

-4 ( +7 / -11 )

I blame guns!

13 ( +22 / -9 )

I blame Hollywood movies and video games.

-14 ( +6 / -20 )

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