By Christopher Wills, The Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Illinois officials have spent years trying to balance the need for security at the state Capitol with the goal of keeping the building open to the public. Openness has always won out over security.
But now, the fatal shooting of an unarmed security guard inside the Statehouse is raising questions the Capitol’s lack of metal detectors and weapons for security personnel.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Monday night that he would meet with Secretary of State Jesse White to discuss the state’s options. Those options, he said, could include restricted access points, a greater uniformed presence around the capitol and weapons for security guards.
“As a result of this, I think you’ll probably see metal detectors in the state Capitol building,” the governor said.
Rep. Mike Boland, an East Moline Democrat who proposed metal detectors in 1998 after two guards were killed at the U.S. Capitol, said he hoped that something would now be done in Springfield.
“It kind of depressed me a little bit when my proposal was blown off before,” Boland said. “It might have prevented this. Metal detectors have a preventive purpose to them. Sometimes criminals or wackos approach a courthouse or airport and see those metal detectors and back off.”
Monday’s death occurred when a man drove up to the entrance, walked in just long enough to shoot the guard and then quickly drove away.
Even if there had been metal detectors, it might not have prevented the shooting, said Col. Larry Schmidt, chief deputy director for the Secretary of State Police. He said the killer likely could have still reached his victim before he would have passed through a metal detector.
After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, security was briefly tightened at the Statehouse. Cars going up to the main entrance were searched, as were the bags of people entering the building. Armed guards checked visitors with metal-detecting wands.
But that soon gave way to unarmed guards simply checking the drivers licenses of visitors. Cars are not checked at all.
White endorsed the use of metal detectors after the terrorist attacks. Spokesman Randy Nehrt said other state officials have blocked the idea, partly out of concern over the cost and partly because they believe the seat of government should not resemble a fortress.