OPINION:
The loss of nine innocent lives at a church Bible study on June 17 in Charleston begs for improved standards of safety at most indoor public assemblies. This should include social, church, political, educational and business events with an established threshold of 50 attendees or more.
The first step is to insure that all are informed of the secondary exiting means and know the safe paths of egress for full evacuation. These must be rigidly enforced. Other than cell-phone reporting, which may take precious seconds, there needs to be developed a means of activating a panic alarm to the local police or fire department when a hazardous incident other than smoke or fire is in progress.
In recent years we have had several fatal gun attacks undertaken by deviant perpetrators inside buildings — at a church, at a theater and at a mall. Metal detectors may be one means of stopping firearms from entering these places, but that may prove too costly, as may the hiring of armed security personnel.
All should submit to their representatives ideas to improve our safety in the various public gatherings we attend. Worldwide, the incidence of terror has increased.
BOB SWEENY
Warwick, R.I.
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