Inexcusable

It should come as no surprise to anyone that I have no patience whatsoever for the politics of the separatist Parti Quebecois.

Their success is an affront to the country that I love.

With this in mind, you can imagine that I was less than enthusiastic about last night's election results.

Apparently, I was far from the only one.

Folks, the reason we HOLD elections in the first place is because the decisions about who should be governing us should NOT be left to people holding loaded weapons.

Incidents like the one in Montreal last night damage our democracy. They make our elected leaders and politicians harder to access. And the less accessible they are, the harder it is for them to do a good job for us.

No politician, no matter WHAT their politics or how odious, should have to fear for their physical well-being.

I have nothing but sorrow and sympathy for the person killed in this atrocious attack last night. Likewise for the person injured by the gunman, and to the families of those affected. I congratulate the security and police details for their professionalism in the handling of a potentially catastrophic situation. And Pauline Marois should be commended for her composure afterwards. Television footage shows what appears to be a bullet hole appearing in the backdrop behind her - at head level - seconds before she is whisked off stage. If that was ME, I'd be a blubbering mess afterwards.

I don't like Marois, her party, or her politics.

But violence against politicians - ANY politician - is inexcusable, and weakens democracy for all of us.