In the aftermath of a Peace Officer's murder in Priddis, southwest of Calgary, an online petition is calling on the Redford government to arm front line officers with guns and tasers.

The preamble to the petition says Rod Lazenby, a retired RCMP member working as a Peace Officer in the Municipal District of Foothills, did not have weapons to defend himself when he was "attacked and fatally wounded" last week. It adds although Peace Officers are not police "they are often tasked with enforcing the same laws and are required to do so with less defensive equipment and training provided to police officers."

The petition urges Alberta Justice Minister Jonathan Denis "to...allow all qualified and properly trained Peace Officers to carry firearms and conducted energy weapons during the performance of their duties."