OTTAWA -- A Conservative MP whose riding includes one of the country's biggest army bases is unhappy with a military directive telling soldiers to avoid wearing their uniforms in public.

John Williamson, who is also a member of the Commons defence committee, tweeted that military uniforms are as symbolically important as the re-opening of Parliament, which resumed Thursday in the aftermath of the previous day's deadly shooting at the National War Memorial and in the Centre Block.

Williamson was among hundreds of MPs who were trapped inside their caucus meeting rooms Wednesday as a shootout raged in the halls.

He also tweeted that he believes Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Tom Lawson was misguided in deciding to remove honour guards from the National War Memorial.

The guard program has been suspended pending a security review.

The MP, whose New Brunswick riding encompasses Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, offered his own solution: "These guards should be armed, not removed."

Reservist Cpl. Nathan Cirillo was gunned down Wednesday morning as he stood guard in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with an unloaded rifle.

On Thursday, the Forces issued a directive telling military members to avoid stopping at grocery stores, taking public transit or even having lunch or coffee in public places while in uniform.