Bobarino
member
from a local ABC affiliate.......
Capitol In The Crosshairs
November 12, 2004
By Keith Eldridge
OLYMPIA - A new more secure state capitol building is just reopening after years of renovation. Metal detectors and X-ray machines are in place.
But critics say there's a loophole in the protection plan. Concealed handguns can get through the security system.
The Legislative Building in Olympia is home for lawmakers, the governor, and for hundreds of people every day. But until now, this building had no security screening at all.
Now everyone, including lawmakers, will be screened. X-ray machines and metal detectors are going in at every door.
"I understand the need for it," State Rep. Jim Moeller said. "The world has changed and we'd better recognize those changes and move forward with it."
But there is one weapon this $1 million system cannot stop. Handguns must be allowed through Capitol security. As long as the owner of the gun has a concealed weapons permit, guards can't stop him or her.
Capitol visitor Elisa Lui says she doesn't understand why. "That's the whole point of security is to make sure that there are no weapons that can hurt people."
Capitol visitor Anthony Auriemma added, "To be able to take a gun in the building when at the same time they're going to have strict security doesn't make any sense."
Capitol visitor Sharon Potts-Terhune has the permit, but won't bring her gun anywhere near the Capitol.
"I wouldn't carry it in any state or county courthouse or anything like that. There's no sense in it," she said.
The state agency that oversees Capitol security says it has no choice. It has to let licensed gun owners carry a weapon.
"Yes, it does sound strange," said Steve Valandra of state General Administration. "But there's nothing the department can do to forbid handguns in the Capitol."
It's all because a couple from Gig Harbor, Merton and Myrtle Cooper, complained to the state.
"Gun-free zone is a defenseless victim-rich zone," said Myrtle Cooper. "You think of Columbine, there was no one in that school building that could have stopped those two kids."
The Coopers wrote the state complaining that it doesn't have the legal authority to keep guns out of the Capitol. State attorneys studied the issue and agreed they're right. State law allows it.
"If somebody were up there in the gallery and wanted to shoot down at the people or shoot at anybody or anywhere, I feel it's my duty to try and stop it," Merton Cooper said.
State legislators have outlawed guns at courthouses, bars and schools, but not the Capitol.
"It's the classic debate," Valandra said. "But the legislature is going to have to decide what it wants to continue."
Legislative Building Security Chief Dan Eikum says, "Perfectly safer would be to have no weapons inside this building at all. That would make the building as safe as we could possibly make it." But when he's asked, "But you don't have that option?" He answered, "Not today."
Eikum says the thing to remember is that up until now, there has been no security screening. Anyone could walk into this building with a concealed weapon and no one would know about it. Now they'll know. But, that's all security can do -- alert lawmakers as to who's packing a gun.
However, Merton Cooper says that defeats the purpose of a concealed weapon. He says it's not supposed to be known so there's no chance to intimate.
"That's right, you don't see it. So you're not worried, but it's here," he said. "I'm supposed to keep it concealed so it doesn't get anybody excited."
He's asked, "So the metal detector is going to shine the light on you?" He responds, "Right." But, the next time he goes to the Capitol, Cooper says he will be armed. It's his right and nobody can keep his gun out of the Capitol.
When the legislature convenes in January, there is sure to be a push to ban guns inside the Legislative Building. But there will also be a push to get rid of the security system altogether, saying it interferes with free access to the legislature.
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they'll never learn that we are the good guys will they?
Bobby
Capitol In The Crosshairs
November 12, 2004
By Keith Eldridge
OLYMPIA - A new more secure state capitol building is just reopening after years of renovation. Metal detectors and X-ray machines are in place.
But critics say there's a loophole in the protection plan. Concealed handguns can get through the security system.
The Legislative Building in Olympia is home for lawmakers, the governor, and for hundreds of people every day. But until now, this building had no security screening at all.
Now everyone, including lawmakers, will be screened. X-ray machines and metal detectors are going in at every door.
"I understand the need for it," State Rep. Jim Moeller said. "The world has changed and we'd better recognize those changes and move forward with it."
But there is one weapon this $1 million system cannot stop. Handguns must be allowed through Capitol security. As long as the owner of the gun has a concealed weapons permit, guards can't stop him or her.
Capitol visitor Elisa Lui says she doesn't understand why. "That's the whole point of security is to make sure that there are no weapons that can hurt people."
Capitol visitor Anthony Auriemma added, "To be able to take a gun in the building when at the same time they're going to have strict security doesn't make any sense."
Capitol visitor Sharon Potts-Terhune has the permit, but won't bring her gun anywhere near the Capitol.
"I wouldn't carry it in any state or county courthouse or anything like that. There's no sense in it," she said.
The state agency that oversees Capitol security says it has no choice. It has to let licensed gun owners carry a weapon.
"Yes, it does sound strange," said Steve Valandra of state General Administration. "But there's nothing the department can do to forbid handguns in the Capitol."
It's all because a couple from Gig Harbor, Merton and Myrtle Cooper, complained to the state.
"Gun-free zone is a defenseless victim-rich zone," said Myrtle Cooper. "You think of Columbine, there was no one in that school building that could have stopped those two kids."
The Coopers wrote the state complaining that it doesn't have the legal authority to keep guns out of the Capitol. State attorneys studied the issue and agreed they're right. State law allows it.
"If somebody were up there in the gallery and wanted to shoot down at the people or shoot at anybody or anywhere, I feel it's my duty to try and stop it," Merton Cooper said.
State legislators have outlawed guns at courthouses, bars and schools, but not the Capitol.
"It's the classic debate," Valandra said. "But the legislature is going to have to decide what it wants to continue."
Legislative Building Security Chief Dan Eikum says, "Perfectly safer would be to have no weapons inside this building at all. That would make the building as safe as we could possibly make it." But when he's asked, "But you don't have that option?" He answered, "Not today."
Eikum says the thing to remember is that up until now, there has been no security screening. Anyone could walk into this building with a concealed weapon and no one would know about it. Now they'll know. But, that's all security can do -- alert lawmakers as to who's packing a gun.
However, Merton Cooper says that defeats the purpose of a concealed weapon. He says it's not supposed to be known so there's no chance to intimate.
"That's right, you don't see it. So you're not worried, but it's here," he said. "I'm supposed to keep it concealed so it doesn't get anybody excited."
He's asked, "So the metal detector is going to shine the light on you?" He responds, "Right." But, the next time he goes to the Capitol, Cooper says he will be armed. It's his right and nobody can keep his gun out of the Capitol.
When the legislature convenes in January, there is sure to be a push to ban guns inside the Legislative Building. But there will also be a push to get rid of the security system altogether, saying it interferes with free access to the legislature.
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they'll never learn that we are the good guys will they?
Bobby
