Wash Call: Military charities hurting ...guns for guards

[bananas]

Source: Scripps Howard News Service

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission intends to allow U.S. nuclear facility security guards to carry "enhanced weapons," aka machine guns and short-barreled shotguns and rifles.

On the eighth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the NRC announced it had taken the first formal steps to permit the upgrade in weaponry for the guards, who commonly are employees of private security firms. Now, with rare exceptions, only federal, state or local law enforcement personnel are allowed to possess machineguns.

Since the attacks ratcheted up concern about nuclear facilities as terrorist targets, several plants have been fined by the NRC after their guards were caught sleeping. In January, the NRC penalized Exelon Nuclear after a videotape surfaced of armed guards fast asleep in the "ready room" of the Peach Bottom nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania, where their job was to be poised to leap into action at any security threat.

Maybe the machineguns will serve to "enhance" the level of alertness, as well as security.

Read more: http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/46841

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Oh great, they'll probably hire Blackwater/XE for this.

[bananas]

1. NRC press release

NRC press release: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/news/2009/09-152.html

No. 09-152 September 11, 2009

NEW NRC GUIDELINES PUBLISHED TODAY ARE FIRST STEP TOWARD ALLOWING SECURITY PERSONNEL TO POSSESS ENHANCED WEAPONS AT NUCLEAR FACILITIES

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued guidelines today making effective a section of the Atomic Energy Act that authorizes the NRC to allow the licensees and certificate holders of NRC-regulated facilities to apply for permission for their security personnel to possess and use certain “enhanced weapons.” These weapons are machineguns, short-barreled shotguns or short-barreled rifles. These guidelines have been approved by the U.S. Attorney General as required by the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

Previously, with limited exceptions, only federal, state or local law enforcement could lawfully possess machineguns.

As indicated in the guidelines, an NRC licensee or certificate holder will have to apply for NRC approval in order to exercise the new authority. As part of the approval process, the NRC would first designate the nuclear facilities, radioactive material or other property eligible for such authority. As part of the application, the licensee or certificate holder is required to update the applicable security plan, training and qualification plan, and contingency response plan, to reflect this new weaponry. In addition, the licensee or certificate holder is required to submit a weapons safety assessment evaluating the impact of the potential use of these weapons. The security personnel of those facilities whose duties require access to any weapon will be subject to a fingerprint check and a firearms background check by the U.S. Attorney General.

The licensee or certificate holder will also need to comply with applicable U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives requirements relating to enhanced weapons.

The guidelines will be followed by a rulemaking regarding enhanced weaponry and firearms background check requirements, and the public will have an opportunity to comment. Licensees and certificate holders not currently allowed to possess enhanced weapons may not obtain and use them before the rulemaking is final.

[Edweird]

2. I don't know how I feel about this yet. I guess it comes down to qualifications and experience.

If they hire recent ex military with combat MOS's and honorable discharges, then I could see that not turning into a disaster. If it's just the regular rent-a-cops, then there needs to be another solution - like nationalizing the reactors and putting active duty troops there if security is THAT big of a concern.