Senate Sgt Of Arms Warns Senators of Danger at Public Appearances

The Senate's sergeant at arms is warning senators and staff to be ready for flaring tempers and dangerous situations at public appearances during the August recess.

“In many cases, members and staff will be involved in public events which include discussions on some current and potentially contentious social topics,” Terrance Gainer said in the e-mail to Senate staff, obtained by POLITICO. “We are aware that there are many valid and varying opinions among the populace about these myriad issues."

But Gainer was quick to add that "there is no information known to us at this time indicating any criminal activity is being targeted toward any particular member or event. However, we do know that sometimes tempers flare, with the potential for disruptions. Should that be the occasion, notifying local law enforcement authorities is highly recommended while attempts are made to calm the situation.”

-----

In his e-mail, Gainer goes on to tell senators and staff to maintain a “heightened state of situational awareness” and to be prepared to observe the locations of exits and emergency call boxes to notify local authorities in the event of an emergency.

“If you see or hear suspicious activity, trust your instincts and notify local authorities immediately,” Gainer said. “Too often, unusual activity is discounted as ‘nothing’ when it might actually be ‘something.’”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/25920.html#ixzz0NXpFYYa5

The Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper, elected by the members, serves as the protocol and chief law enforcement officer and is the principal administrative manager for most support services in the United States Senate.

When the first Congress convened in 1789, the Office of Doorkeeper was established to address the single most pressing problem confronting the Senate at its birth - its inability to keep a majority of members in the Capitol long enough to organize and begin the business of government.

A doorkeeper was also necessary to control access to the Senate sessions, which were private for the first six years. Later, when the sessions were open to the public, the doorkeeper was responsible for maintaining order on the floor of the Senate and in the galleries. The title of Sergeant at Arms was added in 1798 to reflect the expanded administrative duties of the position.

The protocol responsibilities include escorting the President and other heads of state or official guests of the Senate who are attending official functions in the Capitol; making arrangements for funerals of senators who die in office; assisting in plans for the inauguration of the President and organizing the swearing-in and orientation programs for newly elected senators. The Sergeant at Arms leads the senators from the Senate to the House chamber for joint sessions of Congress, to the presidential inaugural platform, or wherever the Senate may go as a body. As executive officer, the Sergeant at Arms has custody of the Senate gavel.

As chief law enforcement officer of the Senate, the Sergeant at Arms is charged with maintaining security in the Capitol and all Senate buildings, as well as protection of the members themselves. The Sergeant at Arms serves as the executive officer of the Senate for enforcement of all rules of the Committee on Rules and Administration regulating the Senate Wing of the Capitol and the Senate Office Buildings and has responsibility for and immediate supervision of the Senate floor, chamber and galleries. The Sergeant at Arms is authorized to arrest and detain any person violating Senate rules, including the President of the United States.

http://www.senate.gov/reference/office/sergeant_at_arms.htm

before. What is the message here? :shrug:

That was leaked to Politico warning them to watch out for the violence like what has been taking place at the House members town halls.

He's probably been watching what's happening like the rest of us and felt it was his responsibility to warn the Senators.

maybe we'll let up on asking for what we need.

:shrug:

:)

I remember not being this cynical once upon a time.

A Police presence would hinder anyone being a threat.

“If you see or hear suspicious activity, trust your instincts and notify local authorities immediately,” Gainer said. “Too often, unusual activity is discounted as ‘nothing’ when it might actually be ‘something.’”

If the LEO are NOT present then it really would be too late to really do anything about it, like if someone has a gun and starts shooting. If the LE's are present there would probably be a less likely situation with someone using lethal force.

That's up to the Senator and their staff plus local authorities and the availability of police at the location. When he says notify local authorities immediately he could mean the cop at the town hall or for someone to call law enforcement.