Terrorist threats and targeted threats intersect one another
Approximately two decades after the September 9/11 attack, terrorism and targeted violence still pose a huge threat to the United States. Targeted violence refers to incidences that involve the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) activities where an attacker chooses a specific target before launching a violent attack. Targeted attacks have a massive impact on the security and safety of the people, schools, churches, shopping malls and any other public meetings. Terrorist threats and targeted threats intersect one another, and there is an association on measures that can be used to address them. Hence to address the threat of terrorism, various companies, including airline companies, malls, and professional sporting events should adopt a host of enhanced security measures.
Law enforcement officials are justified to conduct search and screen passengers under the Administrative search exception to the Fourth Amendment. This is right based on the fact that the search seeks to serve a societal purpose instead of the standard criminal law enforcement Vernonia School District 47 v. Acton (1995). Moreover, the Fourth Amendment cannot be interpreted to deny the government an opportunity to fulfil certain functions that are deemed to be necessary, such as maintaining law and order Michigan Dept. State Police v. Sitz (1990).
As terrorism continues to pose serious threats to the United States, the Federal Government as well as local, state, and private sector partners must put up extensive measures to protect the homeland and prevent a foreign terror attack, especially after the 9/11 attack. The efforts to secure the country from attack illuminates the policies, strategies, and tools that must be employed to address the disparate challenges today (Ragazzi, 2017). While privacy must be protected, security must also be enhanced, The approach adopted to enhance security “extends our borders externally” and forms an in-depth defence leading to the development of numerous supportive levels of security in lieu of depending on one defensive measure that is susceptible to a single point of failure (Ragazzi, 2017).
For the United States to succeed in securing the nation, different measures must be used. For instances, screening and vetting are among key counterterrorism measures that must be adopted on key points of entry (Szmania & Fincher, 2017). Additionally, the security must use all targeted tools at different stages of classified and open source intelligence in a proactive manner to identify any impending or emerging threats. This includes threats posed by terror groups, terrorist agencies and criminal networks. Moreover, in securing the nation, all modes of transport; both for passengers and cargo pose a security threat and must be screened, and interdictions are done at the earliest point of discovery before even arriving at the country (Ragazzi, 2017). The measures taken are aimed at preventing terrorists, stop suppliers and facilitators before they reach the border or their targets.
References
Michigan Department of State Police v. Sitz. No. 88-1897 1990
Ragazzi, F. (2017). Countering terrorism and radicalisation: Securitising social policy?. Critical Social Policy, 37(2), 163-179.
Szmania, S., & Fincher, P. (2017). Countering violent extremism online and offline. Criminology & Pub. Pol’ y, 16, 119.
Vernonia School District 47J v. Acton, 515 U.S. 646 (1995)