But that’s what security experts are saying. That New Zealand remains complacent and naive, despite 51 people being killed in the mosque attacks in Christchurch in March 2019.
And I think we are getting to the point where we need to have armed police at all major events in this country.
These security experts are saying that what happened at Bondi should be something of a wake-up call for us. With one of them putting it this way in the NZ Herald: “We’re only a small millimetre away from that occurring in our own backyard again.”
That’s a quote from Chris Kumeroa, who is a director of Global Risk Consulting and principal security adviser to the Government’s Crowded Places Security Advisory Group.
He says, even though there are significant differences between New Zealand and Australia in terms of international relationships and migrant communities, there is still growing political, religious and social polarisation here. And he says we could be doing more to deal with the risk of another mass casualty event happening.
But what more could we do? How could we be more vigilant?
Armed police at major events would be one way.
Anyone who went to the public gatherings after the 2019 mosque attacks will remember the police being heavily armed.
And I know that what I’m suggesting would definitely be confronting, but I think it would be comforting, as well.
Because the clincher for me is this: in Bondi on Sunday night, one of the alleged attackers was a licensed firearms owner. The father, who was still allowed to keep his weapons despite his son apparently having an interest or a connection to ISIS.
Nevertheless, the guns weren’t illegal. Which shows how gun laws aren’t enough on their own.
So what I’m talking about is armed police at big sporting events, big concerts and gatherings of particular communities that might be considered at-risk.
As former SIS agent and now Massey University senior lecturer Rhys Ball is saying today: “We still don’t have conversations within New Zealand society that is thinking about security and safety in any way other than this kneejerk response. Security is usually down the pecking order of issues.”
Armed police at major gatherings and events would be a definite way of putting it up the pecking order, don’t you think?
John MacDonald is the Canterbury Mornings host on Newstalk ZB Christchurch. This article was first published HERE
These security experts are saying that what happened at Bondi should be something of a wake-up call for us. With one of them putting it this way in the NZ Herald: “We’re only a small millimetre away from that occurring in our own backyard again.”
That’s a quote from Chris Kumeroa, who is a director of Global Risk Consulting and principal security adviser to the Government’s Crowded Places Security Advisory Group.
He says, even though there are significant differences between New Zealand and Australia in terms of international relationships and migrant communities, there is still growing political, religious and social polarisation here. And he says we could be doing more to deal with the risk of another mass casualty event happening.
But what more could we do? How could we be more vigilant?
Armed police at major events would be one way.
Anyone who went to the public gatherings after the 2019 mosque attacks will remember the police being heavily armed.
And I know that what I’m suggesting would definitely be confronting, but I think it would be comforting, as well.
Because the clincher for me is this: in Bondi on Sunday night, one of the alleged attackers was a licensed firearms owner. The father, who was still allowed to keep his weapons despite his son apparently having an interest or a connection to ISIS.
Nevertheless, the guns weren’t illegal. Which shows how gun laws aren’t enough on their own.
So what I’m talking about is armed police at big sporting events, big concerts and gatherings of particular communities that might be considered at-risk.
As former SIS agent and now Massey University senior lecturer Rhys Ball is saying today: “We still don’t have conversations within New Zealand society that is thinking about security and safety in any way other than this kneejerk response. Security is usually down the pecking order of issues.”
Armed police at major gatherings and events would be a definite way of putting it up the pecking order, don’t you think?
John MacDonald is the Canterbury Mornings host on Newstalk ZB Christchurch. This article was first published HERE
5 comments:
quote 'The father, who was still allowed to keep his weapons despite his son apparently having an interest or a connection to ISIS.'
The Australian/NSW regulator failed!!!
Expect a kneejerk reaction from the govt (similar to NZ's) and same same, criminals and maniacs will comply.
Pollies at the photoshoot of 'buybacks/destructions'.
Sports people, hunters will again tarnished with guilt by association.
There is a big difference between the mosque attack and Bondi. The mosque attack was be an individual and the Bondi atrosity was ISIS inspired and will be supported by many residents and citizens of Australia.
Usual Left -wing govt reaction: Australia - stricter gun ownership rather than more stringent immigration vetting. UK: higher benefits rather than draconian Channel control by the Navy. Result: zero impact.
How about we start of by not allowing people to demonize Jewish people as a first step. Our politicians could be first off the rank with this behavioral change.
The last time this happened in Aus there was a rightful revision of gun laws and it had a great effect - not a blip in all the years since Port Arthur until last week. Time they they took it up a notch, they may be leading the way but there is always a way to make things better. Kia kaha our Australian brothers and sisters.
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