Mall Violence

[Skiprr]

This is courtesy of Money.com, where I check-in regularly to see industry news that tells me I'm losing money.

http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/11/news/co ... 2008021215

In part:

One more merchant worry: Mall violence

For the first time, industry groups will meet with mall operators and retailers to discuss recent shooting sprees....

"There's been an increase of these incidents in the past months, and it's raised concern in the industry," said Joe LaRocca, vice president with the National Retail Federation (NRF), the industry's largest trade group....

LaRocca said both trade groups will host a first-ever conference focused specifically on mall violence. The conference, which includes mall operators and individual retailers, will be held in New Orleans in late March.....

"Metal detectors are used in schools and they can be very effective in preventing shootings," LaRocca said....

One security expert says he's noticed an increase in public crimes when the economy is in a downturn, although NRF's LaRocca said his group has shied away from linking violent mall crimes to the state of the economy.

Rising unemployment in a recessionary environment facilitates all types of crime such as robberies and burglaries and drug use among young people, said Chris McGoey, an independent security consultant who specializes in crime prevention.

The "metal detectors are used in schools and they can be very effective in preventing shootings" had me squirming in my chair.

Maybe we should consider a write-in campaign to the National Retail Federation before this conference in late March:

http://www.nrf.com/

[Lodge2004]

Metal detectors at the doors would be unrealistic at most malls. The Galleria in Houston, for example, can have up to 20,000 guests coming through its many entrances during a typical day in the Christmas season. Many of those people will only stay for a short period (1-2 hours), so you have a constant churn. Screening everyone would shut down the mall.

Vigilant customers and security personnel are the only realistic answers.

[anygunanywhere]

Vigilant armed customers and security personnel are the only realistic answers.

Fixed it for ya'!

Anygun

[OverEasy]

They picked the perfect place to have a conference on violence. You have to give them credit for that.
I think metal detectors at mall entrances will just increase online shopping on the internet.
I've never seen mall security guards that carry guns, only a BIG walkie-talkies and maybe handcuffs.

Maybe they can get the TSA to run the program for them because they should check for bombs too and Hey, even drugs.

Things are going down hill, faster..................,OE

[gregthehand]

This is stupid. What a target of oppertunity for a shooter. Think about it!!! Call in a threat, wait in the parking lot until they clear the mall and people start coming back in. The line to get in will be long since they have to go through a metal detector plus they are out in the open in a parking lot probably lined up against a brick wall in a nice orderly fashion. Bang bang bang. You won't get them all but you'll probably get more than you would if you open fire in the mall and people were able to duck behind counters, into the backs of stores, etc etc. Sigh.......... idiots.