WARD CALLS LEGISLATORS "SITTING DUCKS" AT THE STATE CAPITOL

News Release from Office of Rep Gene Ward, March 3, 2017

Representative Gene Ward (R – District 17, Hawaii Kai) today requested the Department of Accounting and General Services for more security protection at the State Capitol because of its total lack of any security measures.  (See attached letter.)

"Not a single employee or visitor is ever asked to show an ID, questioned, searched, or put through a metal detector to enter the building to visit a senator, a representative, or even the governor. With absolutely no security measures at the State Capitol it is time to stop pretending that we're safe just because we're in Hawaii, Ward said.

“For example, last month there was a constant stream of state’s leaders, department heads and community and business leaders to listen to the "State of the State" or the "State of the Judiciary" address.  Every one of these leaders could have been wiped out by a single vehicle speeding by the Father Damien statue and crashing into the House or Senate Chamber and detonating a truckload of explosives.

Ward is calling for more security measures and has offered an immediate and cost-free solution to prevent this.  He is proposing to move the tree planters adjacent to the Capitol reflecting pools and move them in a row next to the Father Damien statute as a means of preventing any vehicles from breaching the Capitol's perimeter. (See attached photo).

“There is a tendency for us to think we are safe and immune from any possible attack because we live on a beautiful peaceful island. But we cannot afford to be complacent about our security anymore. We're sitting ducks at the Capitol and no one seems to be paying attention, especially the legislature," Ward concluded.

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KITV: Lawmaker calls for increased security at Hawaii State Capitol