LAX Shooting Shines Spotlight on Unsecured Areas of Airports - Continued from page 3
called for arming TSA officers, Stover said that move is not widely supported in the aviation security community. Stover believes that the LAX shooting will be something that all airports will be able to learn from moving forward.
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Malls Work on Their Security, but Keep it in the Background
As millions of Americans descend on the country‘s shopping malls for the holiday shopping season, few may notice new security measures intended to prevent violence. For years now, shopping centers have been the target of highly publicized attacks. In fact, public shootings are increasing at an alarming rate, according to research by J. Pete Blair, an associate professor of criminal justice at Texas State University. In 2001, researchers identified five shooting events that met criteria including their taking place in public places like malls or schools, and the involvement of strangers unknown to the victims. Between 2009 and 2012, the rate of those shootings tripled, to about 15 a year. So far in 2013, Blair has counted 13 such shootings. But the strategies often employed by law enforcement agencies to prevent attacks, like metal detectors and armed guards, may discourage consumers from heading to the mall, during a period when malls are losing shoppers largely to online retailers. So mall operators are increasingly turning to subtler, less visible measures to keep a watchful eye on the activities of shoppers. ―There is that careful balance between making people feel safe and the infringement on civil liberties,‖ said Matthew W. Horace, chief security officer of FJC Security Services. Civil liberties advocates worry that if American malls turn into fortress-like structures, the places that double as city centers will become tightly controlled by private businesses that would profile customers continuously.
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SCHOOL VIOLENCE 7 Lessons Learned from Sandy Hook
Five analysts reviewed the Sandy Hook School Shooting summ ary report that was released by Newtown officials. It is important to note that the following conclusions are preliminary as they are based on the limited information provided in the report. These conclusions counter theories that were discussed extensively following the shooting. 1. Actions by school personnel saved lives. 2. Locking interior doors worked. 3. Lockdowns must be implemented quickly. 4. All school staff must be
trained and empowered to act. 5. Staff, students must be taught how to respond under stress and on the fly. 6. Sandy Hook principal probably didn‘t have a chance to fight back. While early media statements indicated that the school principal attempted to disarm the shooter, buying precious time and saving lives of students and staff, no such information is included in this report. 7. Rumors after Sandy Hook prompted many schools to implement unproven strategies. While most schools had opportunities for improvement immediately after the Newtown shooting, many opportunities to implement response concepts that have been proven to work were missed while unproven concepts were implemented instead. Unfortunately, there is no simple and clear-cut approach for active shooter situations. Addressing gaps that have been identified as far back as 1958 should be a priority rather than rushing to implement what we think might work before adopting concepts that have been proven to work for decades.
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Pa. School Safety Report: Teachers Should Not Be Armed
A Pennsylvania House committee released a report recommending that only trained law enforcement officials should be armed in schools, not teachers or other staff members. The committee came to the decision after hearing the opinions of law enforcement representatives, education organizations and district attorneys. The group, which included Rep. Seth Grove (R-Dover Township) and Rep. Mike Regan (R-Carroll Township), concluded that only school police officers, school resource officers or security officers who have received the proper training should carry weapons on campus. Meanwhile, the House Select Committee on School Safety and Security unanimously issued a final report with suggestions for improving school safety. Some of the recommendations include: Panic buttons should be installed in front of school offices; Teachers should wear wireless alert pendants; Schools should use surveillance systems and access control systems at school entrances; and Relevant state legislative committees should consider whether to mandate monthly lockdown and active shooter drills and coordinate with local police agencies.
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