When a gunman opened fire on a baseball practice involving Republican congressional leaders, there were few security guards on site. We wanted an expert to tell us if there is any way to secure a public area like a baseball field.
“This practice has been occurring out south of the capital for years and years and years. The only security that has ever been there every morning would have been Steve Scalise’s black SUV, with a couple guards sitting in there who, you know, every morning are pretty confident nothing is going to be unusual,” said Republican Congressman Kevin Yoder.
Yoder was supposed to be at the field but missed practice.
“They were clearly thrust into the line of fire and from what I understand, they’re heroes who saved a lot of lives this morning,” said Yoder.
We asked retired FBI special agent, Michael Tabman, if there was any way to secure a public baseball field.
We met Tabman at a local baseball field, similar to the one where the shooting occurred. We asked him how he would secure the field if it was necessary.
“So we’re not really going to be able to secure this,” said Tabman, “Look at this, this sort of typifies what they call a soft target. It’s wide open, and even though there is a fence here… that doesn’t really stop anyone from coming in.”
Tabman says when you are at an open public venue, the best way to stay safe is to stay aware.
“So the only thing we can do is try not to be aloof to what is going on around us, have some state of awareness. Some recognition that these threats do occur,” said Tabman.
When it comes to outside security protecting those on the field, there’s only so much they can do.
“There’s just no way we can say ‘here’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to this ballpark and it’s going to be perfectly safe.’ We cannot guarantee that,” said Tabman.
