Crime

With Mass Shootings on the Rise in The U.S., Bryan Crafts Legislation to Address Security at Mass Gatherings

The way law enforcement and event organizers in the territory plan for the safety of large crowds could change under legislation crafted by the Bryan-Roach administration.  In an age when mass shootings are commonplace in the states, the legislation creates a new panel of law enforcement personnel that will assess in advance whether “mass gathering” events have sufficient precautions in place to protect the people in attendance, Gov. Albert Bryan said on Monday.  “What happens in the United States mainland soon comes to visit us. So we want to make sure we are prepared,” the governor said during the weekly Government House press conference on St. Thomas. Under the legislation, a “mass gathering” is defined as an event in a public space and with 50 or more people are in attendance. Private residences would be exempted from provisions of the bill.  The panel of law enforcement officers would determine, ahead of an event, whether entrances and exists are appropriately marked and locat...