There's no need to be looking for someone who has been "radicalized."   These kinds of acts have been committed by individuals in society who may be influenced by drugs, alcohol, mental unbalance, or religious fervor.   They have taken place for a long time, and they're not about to stop.   If assault rifles aren't available, there are plenty of other weapons to choose from.   It appears that these events are on the increase, perhaps because our media coverage is more detailed and more frequent. There are some who feel that the media is often responsible for encouraging tragic events by giving these individuals the opportunity to have a larger audience.

If you want to avoid any possibility of exposure to a violent act, stay home, barricade your doors and driveway, board up your windows, and stockpile food and water. Certainly not practical, nor desirable. A more reasonable approach is to make everyone you work with aware of the potential threats and encourage their reporting even rumors of someone with a threatening attitude.   We need to thoroughly screen all regular staff, part-time staff, volunteers, and even contractors.   Criminal histories are the first step.   Don't hesitate to ask about someone's thoughts on the current state of affairs, especially acts of terror. Terrorists are NOT a protected group and you don't have to worry about discriminating against them. Someone who appears to admire violent acts, has access to weapons or seems exceptionally involved with weapons needs to be identified and dealt with in an appropriate manner.   This may include reporting to law enforcement, direct confrontation, or even termination of employment and barring from the property.

Secure your building and its perimeter.   No one should have the ability to enter your facilities without your direct observation or electronic access, preferably both. Package inspection for both staff and visitors is essential. No one wants to change their lifestyle by staying away from public events.   However, a realistic attitude is to use caution and to always look for escape routes from any building, including retail outlets, movie theaters and other public buildings. Do something to give the appearance that your property is secure and the staff alert. Be visible. When sponsoring a special event, assure that security staff or hired police officers are available and alert to threats. Is all of this necessary?   Only when it's necessary.   You may have operated in a vacuum, safe from any threats for your entire history. That has nothing to do with avoiding attacks in the future.   Perpetrators can come from any location, any level of society, any race or religion.   Be suspicious. Be prepared. These comments and recommendations are opinionated, harsh, and may seem unrealistic. They are shared, however, by most of my peers, the experienced law enforcement agencies. Be aware...be safe!   Don't hesitate to contact us for additional information.