Canada terrorism blamed on religion, guns: Your Say

A terror-related attack in Canada, during which a soldier was killed and Parliament rampaged, has sparked debate over gun control, religion. Comments from Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

Matter of gun control?

Sadly, one soldier was killed, but how many more would have died if the shooter had been carrying even more guns?

This is the perfect example of the need for sensible gun control.

— Ray MacDonald

People say they are willing to surrender their gun rights if it saves just one life. Well, what other rights are people willing to surrender?

We could make it mandatory for everyone to be wrapped in 15 layers of foam rubber, and somewhere it would save a life.

— Tony Mathis

I can only try to imagine the pain of the shooter's mother, with her son turning out like this and doing this evil deed. I applaud her, however, for not trying to make excuses for her son, blaming it on his "getting in with the wrong crowd" or living in a screwed up society.

— Aaron Bowen

Or a matter of religion?

The headline on a Paste BN story states that the "Shooter went from petty crime to terror." Yeah, with a short layover at radical Islam.

— Brian Buss

This attacker apparently had a rap sheet before becoming a "Muslim." The KKK are Christians. Does that make all Christians terrorists?

You cannot paint the Muslim world with a broad stroke and say that all are terrorists.

— Christopher Daly

Attacks impossible to stop

Letter to the editor and comments from Twitter are edited for clarity and grammar:

Recently there have been terrorist attacks on soldiers and police officers in Ottawa and Quebec in Canada, and in New York City, by a wide variety of methods, including car, guns and a hatchet. These are likely lone wolf attacks inspired by terror groups such the Islamic State. Attacks like these are almost impossible to stop, as they are unpredictable, rarely have advanced warnings and are fairly easy to carry out. It's said postal workers deliver mail in rain, sleet and snow. Now it can be said that those affiliated with terrorist groups are willing to kill the enemy by using knives, guns, cars, bombs or hatchets.

Kenneth L. Zimmerman; Huntington Beach, Calif.

Reports are that Canadian Muslims are denouncing attacks. No better time for Muslims to band against distortion.

— @alirtariq

Staying calm and carrying on is the wrong tactic. Why should terrorist attacks in Canada be accepted as inevitable?

— @GYFHAS

Caps off to Canada's news media in covering the recent attacks. Classy and honorable.

— @A35Barber