Security Screening Stopped at Obama Rally

[Update] 2/23/08- Part Two of this , dealing with specific threats against Obama, can be found here.

Under apparent orders from the U.S. Secret Service, screening for weapons was stopped at a Barack Obama rally yesterday, much to the consternation of the local authorities. People were checked for the first hour, then all screening ended.

Dallas police were surprised to learn that the intensive searches and screening of persons that were to attend a rally where Barack obama was going to speak yesterday in Dallas, were stopped after the first hour, and at first they thought it was a lapse in security.

Then came the surprising news that it was not a lapse in security but the orders apparently came from the U.S. Secret Service in an attempt to "speed up the long lines outside and fill the arena's vacant seats before Obama came on."

When Dallas Deputy Police Chief T.W. Lawrence was asked if he was concerned about the amount of people that were able to enter without being checked for weapons, his comment was, "Sure." The he added that the turnout of more than 17,000 people seemed to be a "friendly crowd."

Several Dallas police officers said it worried them that the arena was packed with people who got in without even a cursory inspection.

It would seem that people forget their history.

JFK died in Dallas after security procedures were not enforced, specifically, the plastic bubble top in the car, was removed and the bullet-proof side windows were rolled down because the weather was so favorable and this is how President Kennedy preferred to ride.

In todays day and age, perhaps it would behoove our politicians to consider more security at their public events, not less.

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