(TheIndependentStar.com) – In a striking occurrence, the U.S. Capitol Police face scrutiny after a Massachusetts man managed to enter the Capitol Visitor Center with a concealed handgun, exhibiting glaring flaws in security procedures.
See the tweet below!
This shocking breach has sparked intense criticism and calls for more stringent protocols, intensifying frustrations with perceived lapses in government oversight.
The 27-year-old man, identified as James A. Faber, was found with a 9mm handgun in his waistband near the Library of Congress.
Arrested for charges including carrying a pistol without a license and resisting arrest, Faber’s case is now with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The incident has led to the suspension of the officer involved in Faber’s initial screening, ABC News reports.
Concerns rose when Faber, whose social media expressed suicidal ideations, was cleared after a search by Capitol Police and other agencies, who initially missed the weapon.
🚨🇺🇸 CAPITOL TOUR GUEST BROUGHT A HANDGUN – SCREENERS LET HIM IN ANYWAY
James A. Faber, 27, of Massachusetts, flagged as a mental health risk, managed to stroll into the Capitol Visitor Center with a concealed 9mm handgun on January 21.
He even set off the magnetometer, but… pic.twitter.com/856708tBbl
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) January 23, 2025
Although Capitol Police confirmed no intent to harm Congress, the breach highlighted a severe shortcomings in visitor screening protocols.
“An officer performed a secondary hand search, and the man was let into the building” the U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement.
Faber had previously triggered alarms upon passing through a magnetometer.
Yet, a secondary search inexplicably allowed him to proceed.
This incident has reignited discussions around security and raised eyebrows about the magnetometer efficiency and protocols that failed to prevent a potentially dangerous situation.
The officer involved is currently under an administrative investigation, according to the U.S. Capitol Police, whose “Office of Professional Responsibility is conducting an administrative investigation into the officer’s performance”.
A routine part of this review will include mandatory retraining for security personnel to prevent future disruptions.
“[The Capitol] demands the highest standards when it comes to screening visitors, so a full review of this incident has already been ordered, as well as mandatory refresher training on security screening, so this never happens again,” reads the police statement.
Capitol Police have assured members of Congress that a rigorous review is underway.
As this unfolds, the public is left questioning how many more oversights or breeches are necessary before meaningful changes in security measures are enacted to uphold public safety and prevent such incidents decisively.
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