Why am I not reassured by what convention Chuck Vance participated in in the 1960's? And why do I suspect that the ADF calls a militia any group of people who have a political viewpoint different from theirs and might be armed (including via martial arts)? -Allen

Cobb Group - Netscape

SECURITY OUTSIDE THE CONVENTION HALLS IS FOCUS IN SAN DIEGO, CHICAGO

Copyright © 1996 Nando.net Copyright © 1996 The Associated Press

[...]

WASHINGTON (Aug 1, 1996 10:29 a.m. EDT) -- Beach parties, concerts and fund-raisers will lure delegates from the air-conditioned halls of the Republican and Democratic conventions next month, and officials say keeping these off-site venues safe will be one of their biggest challenges.

[...]

Convention security used to focus on foiling a lone individual bent on disrupting the meeting, but now groups like anti-government militias are more of a worry, said Chuck Vance. The former Secret Service agent helped coordinate security for the 1968 Democratic meeting in Chicago that was punctuated by anti-war protests.

[...]

Statistics give little reason for security planners to breath easy.

A recent study by the Anti-Defamation League said the number of antigovernment militia groups in California jumped from two in 1994 to 35 last year.

And in San Diego County, one to five actual or suspected pipe bomb incidents are reported every week, and a total of 32 hand grenade incidents were reported in the first four months of this year, the sheriff's department said. Six pipe bombs have exploded already this year; there were seven in all of 1995. None were targeted at government buildings.

Copyright © 1996 Nando.net