Security Guards allowed assault weapons

[Mark Tyson]

Security Guards allowed assault weapons

09/06/2003

September 04, Today's Sunbeam (NJ) - New Jersey nuclear plant guards allowed better arms. Security guards at New Jersey's nuclear facilities won a concession from the state on Wednesday, September 4, when Gov. James E. McGreevey signed a bill that will allow security personnel to carry semi−automatic weapons. The new law addresses concerns by security guards that they were not equipped well enough to defend plants from terrorists.

The new state law will allow security personnel at nuclear power plants to carry and possess hollow nose ammunition and certain semi−automatic weapons classified as assault firearms while performing their duties. Prior to the measure, the guards were not allowed to use such weapons. Guards that carry both the weapons and ammunition would need to be federally licensed to do so and would be obligated to return the firearms daily to designated supervisors.

 

[WonderNine]

hollow nose ammunition

 

[Jeff White]

Guards that carry both the weapons and ammunition would need to be federally licensed to do so and would be obligated to return the firearms daily to designated supervisors.

What's up with that? Anyone ever heard of a federal license for semi-automatic weapons and hollownose ammunition?

And what kind of special permits do the supervisors need?

Jeff

 

[Standing Wolf]

Commoners have nothing worth defending, nor any right to do so.

 

[Steve in PA]

I did a LEO Patrol Rifle Instructor Course several weeks ago and several of the instructors were from nuclear facilities. Believe me, the hoops and regulations they have to jump through, go through is a major pain in the butt.

Some can't have the mag in the weapons (most use ARs) beacuse it frightens some of the workers. There is alot more that I don't remember right now. But in between classes we all talked and while they may carry "assault weapons"........its not what you think.

 

[WonderNine]

Jeff we're talking about New Jersey where everything from hollowpoint ammo to cell phones in cars are illegal.

 

[Redlg155]

What I want to know is what the heck were they carrying prior to this???

Good Shooting
Red

 

[C.R.Sam]

M&Ps ?

Sam

 

[Kaylee]

Some can't have the mag in the weapons (most use ARs) beacuse it frightens some of the workers.

Seems to me the appropriate response to said "frightened" workers would be along the lines of "you're presently standing 50 meters from a contained nuclear fission reaction. I think you can handle being 250 meters from a flippin' rifle."

jeez....



-K

 

[jizzacked]

where can I get some of that hollow nose ammo, sounds pretty neat.

 

[c_yeager]

I have a feeling that this "switch to assault weapons" in jersey political speak means that they are trading in their 30 year old smith and wesson .38's for used glock 17s with (gasp) some kind of actual defensive round as opposed to the FMJ they had.

 

[dinosaur]

The reference to "designated supervisors" is Yellow Journalism for Gun Custodian. I would imagine that with PRNJs gun laws, security can`t carry any weapons out of the plant. The Gun Custodian would have some kind of permit to transport weapons back and forth for repair, off site training etc.

The fed license might be for working security at a nuke facility. I`m just guessing but I`ll bet I`m closer to the truth than the intrepid, ahem, reporter.

 

[shfttrsh]

As you all have guessed the reporter is full of manure. The Federal goverment (NRC) does not license Nuclear Security Officers, they are subject to the licensing requirements of what ever state they work in. The power company operating the facility is required to protect it from a specified level of threat by the NRC and 6they don't care how it is done.

 

[joyadecarolina]

when i left the Corps, wackenhut (sp?) attempted to recruit me. seems they have a division of mostly former and retired MP's, SP's, SRT, cops ect that work at level 3 areas. that was in 97 so i can imagine things have gotten a bit tighter.

 

[Detachment Charlie]

Hollow Nose Ammo

I never use hollow nose ammo; it just boogers-up your gun.

 

[Nightfall]

Some can't have the mag in the weapons (most use ARs) beacuse it frightens some of the workers.

Sad thing is, it would probably take a nuclear attack by terrorists to wake people up as to why security guards should be allowed to ya know, secure a nuke plant.

 

[Dannyboy]

Hmmm. I always thought that the guards at nuke plants were federal employees of the Energy Dept.

 

[mattd]

On nbc or one of them had a thing about how some special forces broke into the plant and stole the "package". So unless they get some training or something like watch towers, the rifles aren't going to do them any good. I doubt terrorists would try to break into one of these plants any ways. There are much easier ways of getting this stuff which doesn't really do anything but scare people unless they turn it into weapons grade.

 

[longtom4570]

If the plant is DOE they are fed certified, some are private security companys, others are run by the utillity that own the plant.

 

[shfttrsh]

I am willing to bet that it is a power plant, a DOE facility would not have this concern as DOE security have had federal authority all along. One of the concerns of the Congress-critters post 9/11 was the wide differances in the security forces at power plants across the country. This is due to state law/regulations and the operator's viewpoint of security.

 

[jon]

Security Guards allowed assault weapons


09/06/2003

It took almost two years after 9/11 for them to allow security officers to secure a nuclear building?




:banghead:

 

[VaughnT]

Ya know, I would love to work security at a nuclear facility. That is one heck of a detail to get on with, just for the money, but stories like this really make me think twice.

 

[BerettaNut92]

Jeff we're talking about New Jersey where everything from hollowpoint ammo to cell phones in cars are illegal.

That sucks...do they have external compartments in their cars if they want to bring them to work? Or do they have to be in a locked container not including the glove compartment? :banghead:

 

[4v50 Gary]

I always thought that nuke plants were under DoE jurisdiction and that they had security guys who were SWAT trained. That's how we do it in California. They got toys the cops wish they had.

 

[moa]

One thing I heard on the news about nuclear power plant guards is that there are not enough of them. Many work very long hours to cover the shifts. The result is they loose their edge, and start making stupid mistakes and omissions.