Security is on our mind, these days, especially the security of human beings lives. We are hearing about too many mass murderers, like the gunman who perpetrated the tragic shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. He killed six innocent victims, including a 9-year old little girl, and wounded 13 others, at an Arizona political meeting last week.
These assassination attacks on innocent citizens show how volatile our society has become. It seems that every few weeks, some deranged person seeks the limelight by trying to shoot as many people as they can. Along with the growing risks of politically inspired terrorism, we all feel a lot more fear than we used to, in public places.
We are not the only nation experiencing this problem, and it does not seem to be abating. This past year there were anarchist bombings in Argentina and Chile, and suicide bombings continue in Iraq, Sudan and Sweden. Even the recent assassination of an important Pakistani governor shows the risk of threats from within, by one’s own security personnel.
While the Arizona incident allegedly involved a 22- year-old mentally disturbed loner, it reminds us how volatile our world is, and how necessary and important it is to have proper security and protection, for people in all walks of life. It is a stark reminder that well thought out security plans can reduce the risk of terrorism and insurgency events from occurring. In America, practically most planned terrorist happenings have been prevented by government security personnel enforcing safety measures at our airports, buses and train stations.
People worry about security issues that could affect their businesses and their homes, but they worry even more about their personal safety, and the protection of their loved ones. When we attend large political or sporting event gatherings or national meetings, we face potential threats from shootings or bombings.
Unfortun-ately, we live in a society in which there is a need for protection and safety in the public arena, as well as in private meetings. A person’s loss of safety could be the result of an economic, political or religious undertone in the local community, or it could just be due to an unstable person who happens to be at the same place, at the same time. It is difficult to assess one’s vulnerability against most security risks, and the shortness of time to remedy an unexpectedly harmful situation, makes it almost impossible to make correct instant decisions.
We don’t want to give up our freedom to assemble in public places. It is one of our most cherished freedoms. But we can try to reduce the risks. To protect a group’s welfare, it is important to investigate and look around at each meeting site to review what security procedures are needed to be put in place. Protection for roads and parking lots, safety for small or large crowds, inside or outside building facility meeting sites require different preparations to counteract risks that could affect those meetings. Good security measures can deter thugs, thieves or terrorists from committing hostile acts against their targets. The best defense is to prepare a security plan to protect an area from being compromised from attack. This could involve employing professional security guards or erecting obstacles to discourage incidents from happening. For facilities at risk, closed circuit video cameras can be used to monitor areas, and permit safety checks on people in attendance.
Businesses can protect their property from sabotage and threats, by having video cameras and motion detectors. Photo IDs can be required to secure areas from unwelcome visitors. Besides avoiding harm from unauthorized persons, it is a good policy to limit access to private properties in order to prevent theft of a company’s trade and computer secrets, and other confidential data.
For political or other large meetings, physical security can be set up on the premises before a meeting takes place. Entrance gates for meetings can be monitored for weapons removal. Security guards need to question suspicious persons who could possibly commit crimes, stalk or injure people. Bright lighting for evening meetings can be installed. Identification checkpoints can be maintained and warning signs posted, along with monitors to keep track of crowd and individual movements.
In an open area parking lot near the grocery store, it would have been difficult for Congresswoman Giffords’ staff to establish a security zone for protection against a lone shooter.
Things happen fast, but the lesson learned is to be forewarned and expect the unexpected. One sure way is to plan and prepare for security measures, ahead of time.
— Bernard Featherman is past president of the Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce. He can be reached by e-mail: bernard@featherman.com.
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