From the Editor
Hey you, do you have a minute? Let's talk. I've always heard that two subjects should never be discussed at work-politics and religion. So, where would you like to start, politics or religion?
Politics it is, then. The July 1999 issue of George includes a feature, "Campaign 2000: Who the Hell is Bob Smith?" The article points out that Smith, a New Hampshire senator and GOP presidential bid hopeful, comes with "ratings from the NRA - among the highest in the land."
I don't point this out hoping to surprise you that the NRA is already getting into politics for the 2000 elections. I bring this to your attention because NRA's favorite presidential hopeful is blaming Hollywood for security issues such as school violence. George reporter Stephen Rodrick quotes Smith as saying, "I think Hollywood has to accept some responsibility here. We sensationalize brutal crime. "
Other politicians are taking action to reduce brutal crime. Most political measures are just that-political maneuvering and policymaking. Every piece of gun control legislation proposed in the 106th Senate originated from a Democrat. But despite its notably anti-gun stance, many democrats have joined Smith in blaming the entertainment industry. For example, in a speech this summer President Clinton urged movie theaters to require age-verifying identification for youths purchasing tickets to R-rated movies in an attempt to limit youths' exposure to entertainment violence.
Hollywood, in turn, blames the media, which has gorged itself on untimely deaths recently-most notably Princess Diana, Mother Theresa, Columbine High School students and John F. Kennedy, Jr. The media responds to the accusations with more coverage of gun control and the NRA, and then to complete the circle, politicians take their cues from the media.
So Much to Do
Ironically, the responsibility that underlies today's political climate may
mean profits for our industry because security professionals have so much
to secure these days. If we listen to politicians like Smith, we have Hollywood
to thank. Or blame.
If we listen to the popular media, the NRA is to blame for America's troubles with violence. A recent editorial featured in The Economist, "The Gun Commandments: Coming soon to America's public schools," points out that gun control legislation only skims the surface of the sea of violence in America, especially among the young. The article satirized Congress' reaction to the gun control issue.
The article quips, "This is not a nation armed to the teeth, but a responsible citizenry. If there are bad elements among them, the evil is not in their guns. It is in their souls. What they need is not gun control, but God." To provide "God" to the soulless, the editors produced the "Gun Commandments" for posting in America's classrooms.
Among the commandments is honor the National Rifle Association for its $4 million campaign contributions, honor the Sabbath for target practice and honor parents, or they "will blow thy head off."
Security professionals are caught up in this myriad of finger pointing because of the nature of the discussion-safety, protection, life, death, prevention, technology, legislation. We deal with these abstract concepts for a living, without professionally considering the issue of blame. So, how do we work within this responsibility-oriented framework?
Stay Ahead of the Game
Soon, you will no longer need to call the Psychic Friends' Network or rely
on your Magic 8 Ball to foresee the next security topic splattered in tomorrow's
headlines. Stevens Publishing, publishers of Security Products and other fascinating
magazine titles such as Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Protection
and EH&S Products and newsletter titles such as Employee Assistance Professional
Report, OSHAWeek and OHS News, will soon publish a newsletter for the on-the-go
security professional. This newsletter will deliver regular updates on pertinent
legislation, industry standards and breaking news destined to shape the security
industry.
Don't take my word for it. Stevens Publishing's news bureau chief Ralph Jensen interviewed creators of iris recognition ATMs, Sensar and Diebold. He also talked to USAlliance Federal Credit Union's manager of communication systems about the current use of this newborn ATM identity technology.
Jensen also brings you another soon-to-be-hot technology-antibody profiling. The test is in development at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory and promises to be less expensive and more effective at criminal identification than DNA testing. The article is based on the work of a principal scientist, Vicki Thompson.
You can look forward to putting INEEL's technology to work, but you must also consider how it will be received in today's heightened sense of awareness. Will gun control legislation pave the way to the regulation of antibody profiling and iris recognition technology? Or will people skittish from recent tragedies demand these and other technologies?
Back to Business
The untimely death of president and editor-in-chief of George magazine,
John F. Kennedy, Jr., brings to mind another timely topic: airplane security.
No doubt some inventive-and equally as ambitious-security professional has
been trying to come up with some gizmo that could have better protected Kennedy,
his wife and sister-in-law while in the air.
Robert Keim, an engineer with American Airlines, suggested keeping a glass of water on the dash for reference when conditions prevent seeing the horizon. Although I am not versed in aircraft piloting and I'm not sure if his idea is feasible, I am certain that someone else has another idea that he or she will begin marketing in time to hit the ASIS exposition floor this month.
Private pilots, like Kennedy, rely on the security features of airports such as frequent radar scans when taking off, landing and flying, and physical protective measures of their planes when grounded. Officials at the Wichita Mid-Continent Airport boast a safe, secure facility. Editorial advisory board member Sandy Calabrese details the foundation to that airport's security success in her article, "Getting Grounded." In her article, Calabrese sites an incident when security personnel who were monitoring live CCTV footage noticed a strange shadow and zoomed in on what turned out to be a jet leaking fuel.
Although this anecdote is a minor part of her article, Calabrese reinforces my earlier point. Security professionals are actively doing what talking heads can only report, and what politicians only legislate. Have you had a similar experience? If you would like to share your life-saving success, write to us via e-mail at [email protected]. And now, get back to work.
This article originally appeared in the September 1999 issue, Volume 3, Number 7, page 4. Copyright Stevens Publishing. View magazine archive.