2. WHY SECURITY?
Security implies a stable, relatively predictable environment in which an individual or group may
pursue its ends without disruptions or harm and without fear of disturbance or injury. Security
concerns are mostly related- but not limited- to malevolent human acts. Examples include The
September 11 attacks on The World Trade Center, The Oklahoma City bombing, and the
shootings at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. Safety issues then, refers to
abnormal environments. This might include electrical shorts, fires, hurricanes, chemical spills
and other kind of accidents.
Some business entities and institutions see the value of utilizing highly trained security
professionals to enhance the business overall performance. but not all businesses and
institutions are quick to embrace such a high standard, and see security as an added expense
they cannot afford. Usually, They fail to implement and maintain an integrated security system,
and sooner or later, security incidents happen taking a high toll of personal and property loss.
See below a list of fatal incidents where the lack of security awareness, planning, and full
coverage led to a trail of injury, death and human suffering:
• December 8, 1980, Mark David Chapman murdered ex Beattle John Lennon in New
York. Chapman was a lonely kid originally from Georgia who wanted to bring attention
to himself.
• In March 30th, 1981, a gunman, John Hinckley Jr. fires shot at President Ronald
Reagan. In 1.7 seconds, he fired 6 shots from a 20 caliber revolver. President Reagan
was leaving a Washington Hilton hotel after a public address event, at the time of the
shooting.
SHOT 1: VICTIM 1 HEADWOUND
SHOT 2: VICTIM 2, NECK
SHOT 3: MISS
SHOT 4: VICTIM 3, CHEST
SHOT 5: MISS
SHOT 6: VICTIM 4 CHEST
• In 1993 a siege at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas captured America's
attention, when its leader decided to kill himself and all his remaining followers setting
the whole compound on fire. More than 70 people died including more than 20 children.
3. WHY SECURITY?
• From 1978 to 1995, Ted Kaczinsky, The Unabomber, planted 16 bombs, killing e
people and leaving 23 injured. His targets included business, universities and airlines.
• In April 19th,1995, a federal building in Oklahoma City was torn apart by a powerful
truck bomb, killing 168 people. The author, Timothy Mcveigh, a veteran decorated war
hero. He used a truck loaded a ha homemade bomb made out of common fertilizer
(amonium nitrate) and fuel oil. The human toll is devastating: 168 people killed, and at
least 650 injured. Among the dead, were 19 children.
• On September 11, 2001, 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al-
Qaeda hijacked four airliners and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the
United States. Two of the planes were flown into the towers of the World Trade Center
in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C., and the
fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. Often referred to as 9/11, the attacks
resulted in extensive death and destruction, triggering major U.S. initiatives to combat
terrorism and defining the presidency of George W. Bush. Over 3,000 people were killed
during the attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C., including more than 400
police officers and firefighters.
• June 2001 Andrea Yates drowned her five children on by one. In 2006, a jury
pronounced her not guilty by reason of insanity and she was confined in a mental health
institution.
• Columbine High School Shooting. April 20, 1999. Two senior students, Eric Harris and
Dylan Klebold, embarked on a massacre, killing 12 students and 1 teacher at Columbine
High School. They also injured 21 other students directly, and three people were injured
while attempting to escape. The pair then committed suicide. It is the fourth-deadliest
school massacre in United States history..
• October 2002; one year after 911. A Washington DC sniper terrorized the residents of
Washington D.C and its suburbs by randomly targeting ordinary citizens in common
public places. Over 23 days 10 people are targetted for death. He killed . The victims
were diverse.
• Virginia Tech Tragedy. April 16, 2007. Seung-Hui Cho, an undergraduate student at
Virginia Tech, killed 32 people and wounded 25 others in a shooting rampage. Cho’s
shooting spree began in a dormitory then unfolded later that morning in Norris Hall, an
academic building on the other side of campus. The bulk of the shootings took place in
Norris where 30 students and faculty died, including the gunman himself who committed
suicide after law enforcement officers breached the doors of the building.
4. WHY SECURITY?
The absence of a security priority has caused companies lose hundreds of millions in
financial loss; countries and families have paid with death, irreversible injury and
suffering.
