White House fortified because of guns

On a visit to Washington DC last week, the security was stunning.

Out of the back of the White House, I saw President Obama’s limousine take off with an armada of police, secret service, and video surveillance. Everything was orchestrated – and recorded – as the entourage sped past me. I imagined someone was watching everything through video cameras in some command post.

Later, I walked by the White House and noticed a second fence that had been erected in the last year.

Behind it, there were heavily armed federal marshals and secret service agents.

Sharp shooters are hidden on the grounds and on top of the White House. Security agents walk among the crowds.

There is reason to fear. As the president secures Congressional support on the Iran nuclear treaty, there’s no question that emotions are high.

A $20 million campaign to defeat the treaty – described by France, China, Russia and Great Britain as the best deal for peace – has stirred up much anger.

The Israeli government has worked hard for defeat, and they’ve been helped by former vice president Dick Cheney. He said that the Iran deal would potentially mean a nuclear war. His reasoning is that the Israelis – or someone – would have to take pre-emptive action to stop the building of a nuclear weapon.

The Iranians are doing no favours. They continue to paint “Death to America” on the sides of buildings in Tehran, and hardliners remain angry with the US. It is not an illogical question to ask: Can they be trusted?

But Obama’s enemies have gone much further. An innocent white police officer was recently killed in Texas and a Republican presidential candidate blamed the president. He said that Obama was supporting policies that were anti law enforcement.

All of this might be simple to ignore except for this: America is now having roughly one mass shooting a day, according to a survey by the Washington Post.

Most recently, I listened into the trial of a Nazi-loving defendant who rationalized in court that it was OK to take a gun to a synagogue and shoot the faithful. Ironically, he killed no Jews – only Christians – because he interrupted a community event.

Journalists saw two of their own killed by a deranged co-worker last week. The gun had been purchased legally, and the crime was video taped by the perpetrator.

America has done nothing since the Columbine and Sandy Hook tragedies to reign in its love affair with high powered weapons.

So it is no surprise that the White House is now a fortress. You can still take selfies with the White House in the background. You can still protest on the streets around the White House. But there are more eyes watching – and more streets blocked – than ever before.