People in the public light, people who are controversial, people who, by their very connection, are head of a high profile organization (CEO’s, Politicians, Religious Leaders, Celebrities etc), will always be targets of some evil person out there who, in their sick minds wants to kill that person, and sometimes everyone around them, such as the shooting that took place in Arizona.
I listened to the media reports for the past several days and listened to countless people who are “shocked” that the Congresswoman would be targeted in a strip mall, including the County Sheriff who had been on the job 50 years. And I have to ask why are they shocked? Have there ever been any threats to U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords? Was the location of the shooting a public, easily accessible location?
Here are the facts, as we know them right now:
- The Congresswoman had threats before, including her offices being targeted for vandalism and an incident of a man with a gun at one of her past recent political rallies.
- She chose to have no security; in fact the Sheriff stated that this Congresswoman does numerous public appearances like this and as far as he knows, never asked for any security.
Does it surprise me that the Congresswoman did not have any security?
No, because I see it all the time. People always think it won’t happen to me or do not want the perception of being paranoid. Many times they end the same way – with someone being killed and everyone asking why? Could this have been prevented? The answer to that question is yes!
It doesn’t matter whether we are talking about politicians, celebrities, or religious leaders. There is this mindset that if they request personal security they are somehow giving the wrong message or giving up their own personal freedom – both of which assumptions are wrong.
Is it fun having personal security protection, no. It isn’t for the person being protected and it isn’t for the security people who are doing the protection.
But aside from challenges of the safety and security of the person you are protecting, a key point is being missed with this shooting in Arizona and by many other people I have been involved in their protection and did not want it. The security is not only for your safety, but also for those around you.
If a threat has been made, there is danger for everyone – the Arizona situation is case in point. The target is still alive, yet 6 other people, including a child, are dead.
Security people live in a “what if” world, knowing security is never 100%. But you have to think, what if the Congresswoman did have security personnel present?
Yes, maybe she still would have been shot, but maybe not. Or maybe not as many people would have been shot. Or maybe the gunman would not have chosen this Congresswoman seeing security personnel present (and no matter how much you try to make security people plainclothes and not obvious, they are noticeable and the bad guys know that). Sometimes just having security is a deterrent. Maybe a uniformed police officer present would have been a deterrent to the gunman?
But the fact of the matter is there were prior threats, this was a high profile person, and there was no security. Politicians or church leaders – it makes no difference to the shooter.
Both professions have been targets in the past and will in the future. It doesn’t matter whether you are President of the United States a Congresswoman from Arizona, or a high profile Religious Leader that is a Pastor of the largest mega-church or Pastor in a small little town. We have seen all of them become victims.
If you have any questions or protection needs regarding Church Security Training or Security Consulting for you, your superiors, your company, your church, or someone you know, feel free to call or email Gideon Protective Services, Inc. or Mind Sight Training for a free, confidential consultation. You can find us on the web. See all that Gideon and Mind Sight can offer you.
