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Hawley backs recruitment center safety bill

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

In response to last week’s shooting at a National Guard recruiting center in Tennessee, Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) is introducing new legislation that would improve security at these facilities in New York State. The bill will be cosponsored by state Senator Rob Ortt.

“There is nothing more important than securing public safety – especially the safety of the brave men and women who defend our nation and communities in the National Guard, military and emergency responders. We cannot allow what happened in Tennessee to be repeated here in New York and I am doing everything I can to ensure that those who protect us are safe here at home,” said Hawley, who is the Ranking Minority Member of the Assembly Veterans’ Affairs Committee and recently hosted the committee’s chairman on a tour of facilities in Western New York.

The new legislation will establish a work group to examine and make recommendations on ways safety can be improved at National Guard recruitment centers in our state. The committee will have 13 members, including representatives from the state Division of Military Affairs, Commission on Homeland Security and Emergency Services, State Police, legislative committee chairs, and four members appointed by the governor, and two members appointed by each of the Assembly Speaker and Temporary President of the Senate.

Upon enactment of the legislation, the work group would have until Dec. 1, 2016 to submit its first periodic report to the state Division of Military and Naval Affairs, which would be empowered to implement any approved recommendations of the group.

Billie Owens

If such a work group is formed, if a member of the National Guard goes on an extended trip to some place like, say, Jordan, questions should be asked sooner rather that later -- certainly not after the fact.

Jul 24, 2015, 6:02pm Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

Not quite understanding your comment, Billie.
As the "Chattanooga shooter" wasn't a member of the National Guard, or any of the other U.S. armed forces, I don't see where questioning armed forces members has any bearing.

As for possible safety precautions to be looked at, how about starting with not having the recruitment centers in glass-fronted buildings? It makes little sense to have potential targets sitting in plain sight of any crazies driving by -- even opaque curtains is better than nothing.

Jul 24, 2015, 7:43pm Permalink
Raymond Richardson

"The new legislation will establish a work group to examine and make recommendations on ways safety can be improved at National Guard recruitment centers in our state."

How about new legislation that allows the staff of recruiting centers to be armed to defend themselves should the need arise?

A committee? Wow!

Jul 25, 2015, 3:17pm Permalink
Brian Graz

Brought to us by the GOP Dept. of bigger government.

If this new legislation becomes law it will only create an advisory group of 13 members [all well compensated I'd guess], with a project deadline of Dec 2016!!! What a waste of time and taxpayer money.
What about the increased safety concerns for the next 17 months?
Want to increase security, let the military personnel carry guns, just as law enforcement does. And DO IT NOW, not 2 years from now.
Want to really increase safety and security within the American society? Honor our Constitution and allow [and encourage] ALL citizens to be armed anywhere, anytime... [no more gun free zones - this is where the criminals target]

Jul 26, 2015, 2:41pm Permalink
John Roach

You don't need a study to allow the National Guard to protect themselves. The Governor of New York can do that on his own, but has not done so. Why would anyone think Cuomo would listen to any committee?.

But most recruiting centers are not National Guard, they are for the national armed forces. Obama could let them carry arms with just his own say so, but refuses.

Jul 26, 2015, 5:16pm Permalink
Rich Richmond

The legislation is a good first step; however, we don’t need a blue ribbon panel to conduct a study when tried and true solutions are obvious and used the world over.
Most recruitment centers for whatever reason are located in strip malls or less than secure buildings.
It’s not too hard to conclude that given the circumstances going on today the locations and buildings needs to change. I have every reason to believe that we are going to see more of this in the future.
Our service men and women need to be in secured buildings; at satellite extension of a military base. Preferably with metal detectors and they should be armed with a mandate to protect themselves and the public.

Jul 26, 2015, 8:45pm Permalink

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