Massachusetts State House Security Review a Good Idea [OPINION]

Regardless of your political views, I think most rational people can agree that the attack on the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. last Wednesday was simply unacceptable.

The ease at which demonstrators were able to gain access to the Capitol, one of the nation's most sacred buildings, was at the very least alarming. When you live in a free society as we do, we sometimes take things such as security for granted. If the events of September 11, 2001, taught us anything at all, it is that we can no longer take anything for granted when our security is involved.

Some people want to cause us harm and will take advantage of any breach they can find to do so. We should be grateful that the authorities were able to regain control as quickly as they did and that the U.S. Capitol was spared significant damage. While we grieve the loss of life, it could have been much, much worse.

Governor Charlie Baker and the legislative leadership released a joint statement on Friday vowing to keep the Massachusetts State House safe from harm.

"The safety of the Massachusetts State House, its employees, and its neighbors is of utmost importance," they said. "As we witness the events in Washington, D.C., and across the nation, we are aware of the need to ensure the safety of this building and those who work within it. We continually assess our security needs and will adjust as necessary."

The security of our treasured government buildings, as well as the people who work within them, is paramount to the security of our nation and the wellbeing of our citizenry.

The shocking lack of adequate security at the Capitol last week should serve to remind us all of the importance of being vigilant. Security must remain high and our citizens alert to any potential dangers and must be prepared to act accordingly to protect our cherished nation.

Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

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