The Vital Role of Law Enforcement in Society
Government regulations and safety precautions have changed dramatically in the past 18 years. Places including airports, monuments, hotels, and even schools have new procedures when it comes to safety. Since September 11, 2001, airlines have changed items that are permitted in the aircraft, procedures that are taken to get through security, and types of machinery used. Technology has played a huge role in public safety as well, there have been many new ways to maintain a safe travel environment through different forms of technology. Travel is a big part of some people’s lives and making sure they feel protected is the government's main goal. The government should be more involved in the security and the enforcement of traveling regulations involving tourists. This is why is law enforcement important essay in which this topic will be considered.
The terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 affected traveling in a very big way. People were scared to travel and airlines lost a lot of money. Airlines, including US Airways and United Airlines, declared bankruptcy after the attack, and the government began giving airlines loans of up to $10 billion. This agency was titled the Air Transportation Stabilization Board. The lack of travel resulted in a lower demand of workers in the airline department. According to The Bureau of Transportation, American Airlines laid off over 7,000 employees after 9/11, which caused a major dip in the economy. The government responded to the attack and took charge. The Patriot Act was passed on October 26, 2001 in response to 9/11. This act enabled government to have more control over traveling. The Patriot Act allows law enforcement to use surveillance against crimes involving terrorism, allows agents to follow suspected terrorists, allows law enforcement to conduct investigations without tipping off terrorists, and allows agents to ask a court for an order to obtain records in national security terrorism cases.
New technology was introduced to the government. This caused some changes in The Patriot Act. New technology allows law enforcement officials to obtain a search warrant whenever a terrorist-related activity occurs, allows victims of technological hacking to request law enforcement assistance in observing invaders on their computers.
The Patriot Act also enforced more harsh punishments for those who committed a crime. Such as enhancing the maximum penalties for various crimes likely to be committed, punishes terrorist attacks on mass transit systems, punishes bioterrorists, and prohibits the harboring of terrorists. The Patriot Act has substantially enhanced our ability to prevent, investigate, and prosecute acts of terror.
The Department of Homeland Security was founded just eleven days after 9/11. This enabled the government to prevent terrorist attacks in the United States, minimize damage, and help aid in recovery for terrorist attacks that had already occured. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge was elected the first Director of Office of Homeland Security in the White House. This office watched over all strategies of transportations and ensured safety in all traveling citizens. It also set guidelines on how to respond to any future attacks. Modifications were made to the Homeland Security Act of 2002. Modifications continue to be made to the Homeland Security Act as the needs and technology continue to change.
In 1982-2000 there were 777 terrorism related incidents (Our World). A terrorism related incident is defined as, 'the threatened or actual use of illegal force and violence by a non-state actor to attain a political, economic, religious, or social goal through fear, coercion, or intimidation.” In 2001-2017, the year after both laws were passed, there were 426 terrorism related incidents. Although the number is still high, it was reduced almost by half.
There have been more than 60 terrorist plots that have been stopped since 9/11. Including: Richard Reid - December 2001, Jose Padilla - May 2002, Lackawanna Six - September 2002, Levar Haley Washington, Gregory Vernon Patterson, Hammad Riaz Samana, and Kevin James - August 2005, and Antonio Martinez - December 2010. On December 22, 2001 a man named Richard Reid attempted to light a shoe-bomb on an American Airline flight. The british citizen was headed to Paris from Miami, along with 197 other passengers. Reid brought attention to himself when he first started to attempt to light his shoes. An observant passenger informed the flight attendant and she knew exactly what to do. The flight attendants, along with a few passengers, succeeded in stopping Reid. One of the passengers was a doctor and gave Reid a tranquilizer drug. The flight had an emergency landing in Boston's Logan Airport and Reid was immediately arrested and charged with eight counts, including attempted use of a WMD and is now serving a life sentence. This shows the importance of regulation and understanding emergency procedures. If the flight attendants were uneducated on how to respond the outcome could have been much worse. Another terrorist threat that government officials took control over was in May 2003, Iyman Faris admitted to providing al-Qaida with cash, cell phones, plane tickets to Yemen and 2,000 sleeping bags sent to Afghanistan in 2001. Faris’ occupation involved driving truck and making deliveries, but no one knew he was living a double life. After meetings with al-Qaeda, Faris conspired to use blow torches to collapse the Brooklyn Bridge. The New York City Police Department heard of the plot and provided more police surveillance around the bridge. When Faris heard of the increased security they called off the attacks. Without the police officers investigating and protecting the bridge, Faris would have attacked and harmed hundreds of people. The government’s acts demonstrate the importance of law enforcement and decision-making by officials.
This shows how our government plays a huge role when it comes to terrorism safety. Without the laws that have been passed, the number of terrorism related incidents were bound to increase. Many lives have been saved just by the passage of major laws. This demonstrates the importance the government has and will continue to have on the United States safety.
New technology has introduced improved safety equipment used in public places, especially airports. Although hand held and walk through metal detectors are important, there are much more advanced equipment used to keep people safe. Since technology has been introduced, airports have access to snow plows, Combination spreader, Door control services, and many more (security).
One of the most helpful and efficient systems for passengers is the self service kiosk. This service speeds up the boarding process tremendously. It is also used by passengers more than any other form of safety equipment. People might not think of this as a safety measurement, however, it decreases identity theft and keeps lines down to increase airport flow. Another very important system used is EGPWS or Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System, this reduces the risk of flight into terrain by informing flight staff with timely, accurate information about terrain and objects that may be in the path (Important). The system uses different aircraft inputs and an internal database to warn flight staff of possible conflicts with objects or incoming terrain. A Wind Shear Warning System is another technologically advanced systems used in aircrafts. This informs flight staff of present wind shear.
Flight staff are also required to inform passengers of emergency procedures before the flight takes off. At this time flight attendants demonstrate safety procedures including: pointing out emergency exits, demonstrating how to buckle a seatbelt, informing where oxygen masks will fall from, and demonstrating how to operate life vests (Passenger). Without government forced regulations in aircrafts, passengers would be unaware of how to respond in case of an emergency. Technology continues to change and improve safety equipment used in public places. Government enforced laws set a standard for all public safety, without the enforcement all safety procedures would be different and difficult to remember.
Another way to decrease crime and threats is to enforce consistent punishment. A terrorism threat would be punished as $1,000 maximum or by imprisonment for the minimum of one year or up to the maximum of five years, or both. A person convicted of the offense of a terroristic act would be punished as $5,000 maximum or by imprisonment for the minimum of one year up to the maximum of ten years, or both. However, of the convicted individual caused harm or physical injury as a direct result, the person would be punished by a fine of $250,000 maximum or imprisonment for the minimum of five years up yo the maximum of 40 years, or both. If an individual is found guilty of the offense of a terroristic threat they would be punished by imprisonment for the minimum of ten years or by a fine of $50,000 minimum , or both. If an individual is found guilty of the offense of a terroristic act by imprisonment for the minimum of five years upto the maximum of 20 years or by a fine of $100,000 minimum or both.
In conclusion, the government has regulations and emergency procedures in order to keep citizens safe. The more traveling laws and increased surveillance in airports, national monuments, and other public places the safer the citizens will be. Although terrorism os still a threat today and will continue to be a threat, law enforcement officers will continue to improve the country and the countries citizens.
