Why little Johnny can't get his ball back when it bounces over the neighbor's fence...
I typically read the news every day from a half-dozen various news sites, and I occasionally find a story that strikes me as entertaining or of particular note. I rarely find stories that invoke my "Whosa-jigga-what-now?" reflex.
Sometimes things are just so absurd, though, that I have to re-read a story just to make sure I understand what happened. Today I found a story like that.
Apparently, the Department of Defense and Homeland Security decided that they needed to beef up security at some sensitive facilities around the United States. A prime facility was the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory that handles nuclear material just outside of San Fransisco in a suburban area.
Now, the people that live in the homes (which are just on the other side of the street, mind you, not some goodly distance away) already have to live with the knowledge that radioactive materials are contained in a building only a few hundred yards away from their front doors. They are likely understandably not enthused about the whole situation. To allay their fears and to make the facility safer, the facility has new and improved security, including six-barrel Gatling machine guns, aimed outward, that fire over 50 rounds per second.
Yes, that's right, the government thought it was an awesome idea to aim guns usually associated with major combat operations directly out at people's homes in a suburban neighborhood. Am I the only person who finds the idea a little shocking and scary? I mean, protecting our nuclear facilities is surely important, but aren't there many just as effective methods (that might be cheaper) that don't involve the high probability of civilian death?
Sometimes things are just so absurd, though, that I have to re-read a story just to make sure I understand what happened. Today I found a story like that.
Apparently, the Department of Defense and Homeland Security decided that they needed to beef up security at some sensitive facilities around the United States. A prime facility was the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory that handles nuclear material just outside of San Fransisco in a suburban area.
Now, the people that live in the homes (which are just on the other side of the street, mind you, not some goodly distance away) already have to live with the knowledge that radioactive materials are contained in a building only a few hundred yards away from their front doors. They are likely understandably not enthused about the whole situation. To allay their fears and to make the facility safer, the facility has new and improved security, including six-barrel Gatling machine guns, aimed outward, that fire over 50 rounds per second.
Yes, that's right, the government thought it was an awesome idea to aim guns usually associated with major combat operations directly out at people's homes in a suburban neighborhood. Am I the only person who finds the idea a little shocking and scary? I mean, protecting our nuclear facilities is surely important, but aren't there many just as effective methods (that might be cheaper) that don't involve the high probability of civilian death?
posted by The Academian | 9:04 AM
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