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Hot Gale Winds over Sandy Hook

12/20/2012

7 Comments

 
by Barry Campbell

The tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut has stirred up several debates; including gun control, the use of psychiatric drugs, God in school, and media coverage of such tragic events. In regard to the last one, I will not even mention the killer's name, but let us all remember those of the victims at Sandy Hook Elementary:
  • - Charlotte Bacon,
    - Daniel Barden,
    - Rachel Davino,
    - Olivia Engel,
    - Josephine Gay,
    - Ana M. Marquez-Greene,
    - Dylan Hockley,
    - Dawn Hochsprung,
    - Madeleine F. Hsu,
    - Catherine V. Hubbard,
    - Chase Kowalski,
    - Jesse Lewis,
    - James Mattioli ,
    - Grace McDonnell,
    - Anne Marie Murphy,
    - Emilie Parker,
    - Jack Pinto,
    - Noah Pozner,
    - Caroline Previdi,
    - Jessica Rekos,
    - Avielle Richman,
    - Lauren Rousseau,
    - Mary Sherlach,
    - Victoria Soto,
    - Benjamin Wheeler,
    - Allison N. Wyatt

Locksmiths, responsible for providing security to their customers, certainly have a stake in learning what could have prevented this tragedy or could prevent any such horrific event in the future. I do not pretend to know all the details of what occurred that day, but it does appear that a couple of readily available products could have slowed down the killer's actions if not prevented them altogether.

But what prompts me to write this now is an article published by the Editor-in-Chief of an industry magazine that offers no such suggestions and seems to want to use the event to push an unrelated agenda. Out of the limited respect I have for this person and the publication, I will not name them, but I will quote from the article.

He states that his “normal sales pitch as a locksmith was to tell people that locks were for honest people.” It is no wonder to me that he believes the public has little regard for the locksmithing profession when he shows such contempt for the industry himself. If the locksmith can only protect people from “honest people,” what is the point? While it is true that a determined criminal can find a way to eventually circumvent virtually any security device, that is a far cry from only offering protection from honest people. Every step taken to deter or delay someone with criminal intent makes it that much less likely they will succeed.

He further states that, “[i]t is up to manufacturers to make locks better than just good enough for honest people.” While that may be somewhat true of the brands commonly found at the big-box stores, I think most professional locksmiths already use and recommend locks capable of keeping more than just “honest people” from bypassing them. More to the point, my understanding of the events in Newtown includes the killer breaking glass in order to make entry to the school. I would suggest that the use of a product such as ShatterGARD® available from Jordan Frankel and Global Security Experts, Inc would have delayed, if not prevented, his unauthorized entry. Obviously, prevention is best, but any delay would have allowed more time for authorities to respond, which is critical in any situation such as this.

Sadly, it seems the killer had relatively free movement once he made entry to the school. Hopefully, any professional locksmith would have recommended intruder-function locksets on the classroom doors. Again, the technology has been around for years, available from several manufacturers. They do not need to “make locks better,” we just need to promote the appropriate hardware that is already available.

Finally, he adds that, “[i]t is also necessary for every locksmith in the lock industry to broaden their image from key makers to security consultants, professionals who can select, furnish and install security products required in this new era.” He has already denigrated the locksmith profession but, somehow, calling ourselves something different would be an improvement, when he does not even mention the available products that a professional locksmith could have recommended and installed? In fact, the editor, who I assume considers himself a security professional added that, “Sandy Hook school had reportedly taken some of the current suggested security precautions and thought that they were prepared.” If that is true, I would take the recommendations of a professional locksmith over a security consultant any day.
7 Comments
Tom Lynch link
12/21/2012 01:17:50

Great observations Barry! Those comments you have quoted from a person identified as Editor-in-Chief of an industry magazine is not only reckless and irresponsible, but seriously ignorant.

Most certainly locks do keep out dishonest people and every professional understands this and how to properly install them to do so. Time is a benefit associated with all security devices and you are absolutely right that the delay of time is a deterrent and every law enforcement agency in the world would say so!

The quoted remark about security professionals needing to select, furnish and install security products for this "new era" is incredibly important since it is a dishonest attempt at misleading the readers to think that traditional mechanical locking systems or other devices are not secure.

It is further intended to infer that they must purchase the products advertised in this persons magazine, even if it is substandard, over bloated or simply inappropriate and offers less value for the applications needed by the customer,

Reports have indicated that Sandy Hook had an electronic access control system, so a counter remark could be that new era security devices only keep honest people out? By the way, there is no such thing as "new era" products. It is hype and I can site numerous failures in products being promoted within our industry by those referring to them as the new thing.

The fact is, that understanding all issues involved in properly securing anything must be considered. To trash talk or denigrate the very same professional locksmiths that have been providing such things by referring to them as "key makers" is insulting and shows how much contempt this Editor-in-Chief has for those who subscribe to his magazine.

My first thought was also ShatterGard for the glass. I have worked with this product before and Jordan Frankel is a great guy to work with for this application and he SUPPORTS LOCKSMITHS.

I actually made a recommendation a few days ago after being asked to walk down some day care centers to give my "Professional Locksmith" opinion. I will share the results of these walk downs along with photos and with some of the failures these 'new era" products which are cause for great concern.

But then again, who am I, just a key maker!

Let me know what magazine it is so I can cancel my subscription.

Reply
bob
12/21/2012 02:11:43

Great article and I totally agree with you. Also, this tragedy could happen anywhere and it already has (Colorado, Arizona, etc... More kids and young adults are trying to cause similar tragedies. Something that I'm still not hearing much about with the aftermath is Adults needing to secure their weapons at home to keep them out of the non owners hands. There are many things that Locksmiths can help with to finding solutions to a securing dangerous items at the place of residence as well.

Reply
Barry Campbell link
12/21/2012 13:02:08

Bob,
Great point! I was focusing on the school, but Keeping guns out of unauthorized hands is certainly something a professional locksmith can help with, whether we are talking about trigger locks or cables, or safes. Difficult balance, because most gun owners (including myself) want quick access. I know Pro-lok has or had one that had a keyless option, but I've never actually seen it offered anywhere. Some gun manufacturers are actually adding built-in locking mechanisms. A Taurus pistol I bought last year had such a device (don't like it, but it's there).

Reply
Lou Frascella
12/21/2012 04:11:11

The Columbine high school incident was a wake up call to school systems across the country, but between then and the Connecticut tragedy, many of us fell asleep.
I've been a locksmith for 30 years, in that time I've seen many great security products come out. I''ve also heard many great ideas and suggestions, most made in hindsight of tragic events.
In Arizona school funding was already drastically cut, also the citizens voted down a 1 cent sales tax to fund schools which compounded the problems with school system budgets.
Now those same citizens are demanding schools spend countless millions on more security. The question now is, will those same citizens approve a tax increase to pay for it all?
I've heard all of the "cut the waste" nonsense, I've even heard of all kinds of cheap-ass ideas that would be less expensive, most of which would violate life safety codes, or are just downright stupid and wasteful.
If you want adequate security, be prepared to pay for it!

Reply
Barry Campbell link
12/21/2012 13:13:57

Lou,
If Arizona is anything like Indiana, you'll find a ton of wasteful spending in the school administrations (not teachers salaries). It's hard to achieve reasonable priorities in government spending because so many special interests get involved. Unfortunately, it's usually schools and public safety that get cut.

Reply
Gale Johnson
12/21/2012 06:18:01

This is a questionnaire I sent to a well-known lock company. You guys can rip me up one side and down the other. At least a dialogue has been started. The fact is that locking systems have not changed in decades. Our industry is not in business to tell people when to carry guns and right now we can only offer what the manufacturers have been making for 100 years. We should all be able to do better.

"A lock is only as secure as the door it is installed on. Lock companies should consider offering more secure doors, perhaps with layers of wood and metal, bulletproof glass sales, door and window bar systems, and even a brochure on proper personal procedures in case of trouble. It is endless. Using a three-quarter inch long spring latch to secure a door is not the answer. Segal once made a dual bolt deadbolt with a vertical bolt which hooked into a loop on the strike plate when the door was locked.  Human life is valuable. There should be high security lockset systems for people or companies who want to pay the price.  Why does a tubular deadbolt have to stick out so far from the face of the door?  Why does a lockset need an outside knob or lever?  Hardware projections only provides the criminal with something to work on. How about an outer push plate which moves inward slightly when pushed to release the latch. An auxiliary outer  pull handle could then be used to pull the door open. Mechanical lock systems have only scratched the surface of inventions.  There is very little mechanical or security differences between modern mortise and knob locks compared to the same locks made 50 or 100 years ago. The general designs are the same but modern parts are only stamped steel imitations of the sturdy cast brass parts of yesterday."

Reply
Tom Lynch link
12/21/2012 09:25:09

Not exactly Gale. There have been numerous innovative designs and enhancements to the mechanical locks which are proven and continue to perform effectively. I'm not sure what questionnaire your referring about and I don't see one posted here and I also don't see anyone telling people when to carry guns so please help us understand.

You have made a good observation that the doors are important and so are the frames, So why are you undermining the locksmith industry rather than advocate and address the door industry?

By the way the door manufacturers most certainly do have ballistic rated options. I have installed Kevlar lined doors, bullet proof side lights and even blast mitigation products and I did all this proudly as a Professional Locksmith so I find your lack of understanding of what we do and our abilities to keep dishonest people out as well as the good people.to be cause for concern.

You speak as if the only options we have as professionals is builder hardware which is complete falsehood and yes, I am well aware of Segall locks, they still exist ya know. Deadbolts don't have to stick out far from the door surface, you can use a low profile LORI deadbolt. There are high security lock systems ALREADY for people who wish to pay for it so why do think there isn't?

The push plate is a nice idea and I believe it already exists, but your concept of having things not projecting does not qualify it as being more secure because of it. If that was the case than why did the 777 Security Lock not survive the marketplace?. I like that, but I don't recall your magazine giving it a fair introduction, You do about the 777 system correct? If not let me know.

Your right! Locksets do not have to be a knob or lever, but these are after-all what you have promoted in your magazines advertising for years is it not? Everyone knows that the 3/4" latches are not sold or promoted for primary security, so what is your point?

Nothing has to be anything, but there are alternatives and have been for many, many years. Have you ever checked out a SOSS Ultra Latch or other innovative designs or are we as readers of your magazines only limited to who is paying for advertising? SOPL member Danny Gurvis of Masterkey Systems America, LLC seems to find all kinds of exciting products, try giving him a call.

Who cares how deep the mechanical lock inventions are when they work when properly applied and installed. A 2x4 across a door is the same as a log used 100 years ago and it is still effective, so what is your point other then you made your money off the things your undermining now with your comments. I am sorry but I do not agree with your inconsistent position. But I do appreciate that you posted here.

It is very troubling to witness and your misleading everyone in my opinion. Your choice to ignore the products that many of the professionals have sold and installed is something you need to reconcile with and if I were an advertiser I would not be too thrilled about this.

Locksmiths already do electronic access control, CCTV, specialized door installations, high security locks, and innovative modifications to existing mechanical designs that continue to secure many facilities and homes.

So please stop the trying to make the entire locksmith industry out to be some kind of dirty person making keys in a damp cellar. Yes, we have some disheveled players, but so does ever other industry but I don't see their magazine editors throwing them under a bus. Your contempt of those who buttered your bread for years is very disappointing.

I think it is time the locksmiths get the praise and respect they deserve and for those who continue to act as the "enemies from within" to think twice before doing otherwise.

Merry Christmas!

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  • Home Page
  • Training Courses
    • Basic Locksmithing - LTP
    • The Art of Masterkeying
    • Interchangeable Core
    • Automotive
    • CCTV
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    • Steel Doors
    • Locksmith Dictionary
    • Business Sales & Marketing
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    • Security News Magazine
    • Lock Radio Jingles
  • Online Store
  • Quicklinks
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