A Whitehorse veteran says his shock at Wednesday’s shooting in Ottawa has turned to anger.

“There’s a lot of veterans who feel the same way I do – I feel a call to action,” said Darcy Grossinger, the president of the Whitehorse branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.

Grossinger spent 15 years in the Canadian Armed Forces in Croatia, Bosnia and Afghanistan.

“I wish I could join again,” he told the Star Thursday.

Veterans and members of the public gathered at the Legion Wednesday night for a moment of silence for Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, the victim of that day’s attack in the capital.

A reservist from Hamilton, Ont., Cirillo was standing guard at the National War Memorial when he was shot. He died from his injuries.

The gunman, who has since been identified as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, then entered Parliament, prompting a shootout during which Zehaf-Bibeau was killed.

“It doesn’t surprise me,” Grossinger said of the brazen attack. “I thought something like this was coming. But that doesn’t lessen the shock effect. It’s a real kick in the teeth.”

His father, Red Grossinger, agrees.

Red served for 30 years in Israel, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria and Europe during the Cold War.

“We’re shocked,” he said. “But that was expected to occur eventually. I’ve been waiting for that for quite a while. It was bound to happen, and it’s happening now.”

This was the second attack on Canadian forces this week.

On Monday in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., a man in a car ran down two soldiers, killing one, Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent.

That man, Martin Couture-Rouleau, was on a list of 90 people being investigated by RCMP as suspected extremists.

These events will only unite Canadians, Darcy said.

“It’s unfortunate that it takes a tragedy like this, but it really does have a drawing of force,” he said. “We really realize we’re all in this together and it’s time to pull together.”

Darcy said he’s heard talk on social media in the community about veterans removing their licence plates.

“I understand the thinking behind it, but I think it’s the wrong way to go,” he said.

“I think we should be increasing the visibility of both service members and veterans in the community. We’re not going anywhere. The fight is ours to take up, and speaking for myself personally, there’s no way I’m taking down my veteran’s plate.”

Canadian soldiers have been asked not to wear their uniforms in public for safety reasons.

In the wake of this week’s events, focus has turned to national security and homegrown terrorism.

RCMP said Thursday Zehaf-Bibeau was not on their watch list, but he was known to authorities.

In a speech Wednesday night, Prime Minister Stephen Harper identified the gunman as a “terrorist.”

He said this week’s “despicable” events are a reminder that Canada isn’t immune to attacks witnessed elsewhere in the world.

“But let there be no misunderstanding,” Harper said. “We will not be intimidated. Canada will never be intimidated.

“In fact, this will lead us to strengthen our resolve and redouble our efforts and those of our national security agencies to take all necessary steps to identify and counter threats, and keep Canada safe here at home.

“Just as it will lead us to strengthen our resolve and redouble our efforts to work with our allies around the world and fight against the terrorist organizations who brutalize those in other countries with the hope of bringing their savagery to our shores.”

Darcy said he thought the attacks were a wake-up call for Canadians – that many likely didn’t think terrorism was a significant threat here until now.

“I think (for) people that were sitting on the fence about action against terrorism, I think this is going to convince a lot of Canadians (that the country needs to do more),” he said.

Darcy said he expects security will tighten at Canadian forces bases and legislatures across the country.

“There’s a lot of talk about rounding out these 90 people on the watch list, but we have to be careful ... we have to support the rule of law. We don’t want to get in thought-crime territory.”

André Gerolymatos, a professor at Simon Fraser University and expert in military history and security, agrees that security will increase.

“Here’s the conundrum for people in security: how do you stop someone who has not committed a crime?” he asked yesterday in an interview.

“(RCMP) have 90 people on their list. They’re watching them ... but they can’t watch them 24/7.

“On the other hand, does the government then pass legislation to create measures such as preventive custody?

“That means arresting someone and keeping him in jail on the assumption that he might commit a crime, which goes contrary to the whole legal ethos of common law.”

But, Gerolymatos said, he wouldn’t be surprised if such legislation was enacted.

House of Commons Speaker Andrew Scheer said Thursday he will be ordering a review of Parliament’s screening protocols and security procedures.

A moment of silence for those killed and wounded in both attacks was held Thursday afternoon as the Yukon legislature began its fall sitting.

See commentaries, letter in today’s Opinion section.