Security Guards and Counter-Terrorism

Guards and citizens are told that they are on the front lines against terrorism.


Mandatory guard terrorism training and an exam is required by California law. The training includes noticing suspicious activity that does not reach the level of an actual crime.


This is rudimentary training, nothing like that seen in Israel for example. If you never heard about terrorism, this training will at least bring it to your attention and that it might happen at or near your site assignment and it may look like an innocent activity.


What could go wrong?


[Note, in the 1970s, counter terrorism taught then that terrorism was a means to cause the host (victim) country to crack down on its citizens' liberty. The theory was that the citizens would then rise up against the government and the terrorism sponsor would have a chance to seize power by the manipulation of the useful idiots. See the result for example in many South and Central  American countries.

Today's Islamic terrorism is "simple" hatred and insanity dressed in ideology, IMHO. Sharia Law anyone?]


Guards belief in terrorism in America mirrors that of our citizenry.

• Some admit it has happened but is so rare that any action to prevent it is a waste of time.
• Some take it seriously and have added this as a real possibility in their life, albeit they agree it is unlikely in their area.
• Some believe terrorism is the government's problem alone...or caused by the government...therefore not their concern at all. See my previous post on Panic.
• Some don't believe in it at all and ignore the possibility for whatever reason.
• Some believe it can happen in the next 30 minutes, at a location near them! (Stress?, anyone? Bueller?)

When each of these views come together in discussion we have conflict. Rarely coming to any agreement.

A good example is the "photography of public transit systems". An article with video and great comments clearly shows these positions and how guards may deal with them and their mandated duties.

[BTW, Discussing the constitutionality of a policy or statutory law is a waste of your and the guard's time! The guard cannot afford to lose their job over your interpretation of how things should be. You may be right and righteous...they will be unemployed.
Will you write odes to their honor and principles if they, then and there, say "Sir, you are correct, I will immediately resign in protest over this patently unconstitutional directive!"]

I feel sorry for these guards, they are in a no-win situation...we are forced sometimes to follow unthought out orders by bosses who are incapable of subtly, with their personal authority issues and further, we must deal with citizens who live in an idealized world of their ideas and intellect.
Neither position can we address while on duty. We are given very limited discretion.


Liberty is what America is all about. Quotes of the Founders as to 'liberty or death', 'exchanging safety for liberty', et. al. is our ideal.


However, if your video of the transit system is found in a terrorist safe house, after a gas or explosive attack on that transit system, with dozens killed and injured, can we jail or sue you?
No, of course not, you say. How can you be held responsible for others' actions with your highly principled photography?
Can the transit system be sued by the victim's families and survivors for failure to prevent your video being taken in the first place...of course they will!
What if your Mom, husband, wife, son or daughter is killed there?
Did they die for Liberté? or naiveté?


Should we become a fascist state, like the old CCCP, and curtail your actions at every turn? No, we will not! But let's at least try to see the situation from alternate viewpoints and live/act in the real world where actions have consequences. Liberty above all  is great in principle...until someone loses an eye. Balance is not easy. It will often be gotten wrong. The world is not black and white.

Guards and police are not constitutional scholars or lawyers. Your parsing of the situation will fail more often than not.


In the blog article referenced above; the police reaction shows they have run into academicians before and are unimpressed, annoyed and have better things to do. BS begets BS.


Discussions like these are critical to liberty.
Curtailing constitutional rights is wrong!
Unintentionally aiding and abetting terrorists is unconscionable!...regardless of your innocent intentions.
The fact terrorists can make clandestine videos is immaterial.

That is why we have Courts...as imperfect as those have repeatedly shown themselves to be.
 (You want perfection? You are on the wrong planet.)


Lastly:
Some special contract guards are all about counter-terrorism. It is rare you will see or meet these folks. They are well trained.   Some even work for Homeland Security... [Got MP5SD/SCAR?]   ;)