Interesting read and interesting conversation topic.
So in the past I’ve brought up what I feel is “Security Theater.” Sure, there are metal detectors and various levels of screening depending on your gate, but how safe is the back of the line outside the rotunda, or how safe is the subway stop? How safe is it over by the Apple? How safe is it underneath the Whitestone?
Then you have Paris and you see a bad situation and what could have been a worse situation. So these are complicated issues.
One idea floated in the article is banning fans from bringing in any bags (so what happens if I come from work or have a baby who needs diapers?), banning all food (yay Aramark) or even screening the undersides of all cars entering the parking lot (I have experienced this at the Daytona 500).
All arguably make us safer. All arguably make life less convenient and more annoying and are disruptive. And to me, then maybe the bad guys have gotten what they want. One time one guy almost lit his shoes on fire and now flying is a major pain in the ass in the States. When I was recently in Australia, I gotta tell you it was really nice leaving my shoes on at the airport. Really nice. Similarly, I like bringing a snack to the game.
So back to security. Do I want someone bringing in some bad stuff to the Mets game? Of course not. But that same bad guy can easily access the Willets Point train station. Should we search everyone as they get off the 7? But doesn’t that create a bottleneck there? Should we search everyone as they get on the subway? Who is going to pay for that security back at some random station on the J line in case that’s where the bad guy boards? And do you want to be metal detected as you get on the subway every day? What about buses?
It’s a complicated issue. I don’t have the answers. Good read.
Major League Baseball owners began their two-day meeting Wednesday by discussing threat protection with the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson.
Source: Homeland Security chief Jeh Johnson addresses MLB owners
