City Hall: Security Gates Aren’t Secure

The purpose of security scanners and gates is to provide security.

Doubtful these Ottawa City Hall gates will do that.

What happens if an attendant discovers a weapon on a person? Can an attendant stop them? Probably not.

Is there a police officer nearby?

How many people are hurt at the security gate if the person with the weapon decides to use it to get to the people he or she wants to harm?

How long would be the delay before the person gets through the gate? These events happen in a flash.

How much more carnage occurs inside Ottawa City Hall before the person with the weapon gets to his or her destination?

Might the gates give time for councillors in committee or council to evacuate their meeting room? That’s possible. Does the person with the weapon then turn on the public in the building? That’s possible, too.

Is the security attendant harmed? Most likely.

And if you treat city hall like an armed camp, what impression does that give the public? Will democracy flourish in an armed camp? What impression do the security gates give to someone who might do people harm? Hard to say.

The fact of the matter is that security gates can’t stop a person who is intent on attacking with a weapon. And police can’t respond in time to stop someone from causing mayhem.

Security gates aren’t secure. In fact, it’s difficult to understand exactly what they accomplish other than turning city hall into an unwelcoming place. That’s not good for democracy.

We can’t protect everyone from an attack. The whole city is a target as recent incidents elsewhere have shown.

The benefits of an open city hall out-weigh the misguided belief that security gates will hinder or stop an attack. They won’t.

What are the odds of an attack? Your agent has been covering municipal affairs since 1998. Only one possible threat became public and the danger was outside the building.

What are the odds of an attack? Almost zero if the past is an example.

That said, if someone is intent on hurting someone or a number of people, there’s very little society can do to stop them  before the attack, security gates or no security gates. After the incident, yes, something can be done but the damage has already happened.

All that’s left is punishing the offender … if they can be caught.

So why the security gates?

To slow down or stop demonstrations from occurring in the city hall people place? Will legitimate peaceful demonstrators be intimidated by the security gates? Maybe.

Exactly what are these security gates for? To keep politicians and staff from being embarrassed by peaceful demonstrations?

That’s not democracy.

The public area on the main floor of city hall, beside the council chamber, is called Jean Pigott Place.

Your agent knew Jean Pigott a bit (enough that when I called, she picked up the phone) and, were she alive, it’s doubtful she would be in favour of those security gates.

Few people embraced this community more than Jean Pigott. She didn’t shut people out.

Ken Gray

For You:

City Security … First Person: BENN

Security Blocks City Hall Services: BENN

Deficit: Councillors Should Show Leadership: BENN

What’s The Deal With City Scanners? MULVIHILL

City Hall Scanners An Inside Choice: CULLEN

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