January 1, 2024 – In Breaking News – The Guardian

New gun safety laws are taking effect in several states around the US on 1 January after the country ended 2023 with more mass shootings than days.

States including California, Illinois and Colorado are starting the year by implementing extreme risk protection orders, more commonly referred to as “red flag” laws, as a means to prevent further gun violence.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, there were 655 mass shootings in the US in 2023.

(Take a look at new laws for several states nationwide that will take effect in 2024, from protections for election workers to gender-neutral toy aisles. Courtesy of NBC News and YouTube. Posted on Jan 1, 2024.)

In California, a law signed by the Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, prohibits people from carrying concealed guns in 26 places, including public parks and playgrounds, churches, banks, and zoos.

The law prevailed after a federal court suspended an injunction issued by a judge who concluded the state’s law violated the right of citizens to keep and bear arms under the US Constitution’s second amendment.

(A new California law that bans people from carrying firearms in most public places takes effect on New Year’s Day, even as a court case continues to challenge the law. Courtesy of ABC News and YouTube. Posted on Dec 31, 2023.)

In Illinois, a law will go into effect on Monday that bans the sale of many types of semiautomatic assault weapons, including AK-47s and AR-15 rifles, and magazines with more than ten rounds for rifles and more than 15 rounds for handguns.

The law was passed following the deadly mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, in 2022.

Notably, these laws have overcome a slate of lawsuits from pro-gun groups across several states.

Gun rights advocates have been challenging the legislation through the courts, relying on a Supreme Court decision in 2022 that expanded gun rights by striking down a New York gun law.

Also taking effect on Monday is a Washington state law imposing a 10-day waiting period on firearms purchases.

The law intends to create a buffer between people in crisis and a firearm. It will also require all gun buyers to show they have taken safety training.

(The Supreme Court seemed likely to preserve a federal law that prohibits people under domestic violence restraining orders from having guns. Courtesy of KING 5 Seattle and YouTube. Posted on Nov 10, 2023.)

The measure is part of a package signed in April 2023 by Governor Jay Inslee, which included a ban on the sale of certain semi-automatic rifles – clearing the way for lawsuits against gun makers or sellers in certain cases.

Continue reading… New gun safety laws take effect around US after over 650 mass shootings in 2023

ATF NCETR and Army G-38 Honored in 2023 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards

American Security Today’s Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards, the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program, now entering its Ninth Year, recognizes industry leaders of Physical and Border Security, Cybersecurity, Emergency Preparedness – Management and Response, Law Enforcement, First Responders as well as federal, state and municipal government agencies in the acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to Keep our Nation Secure.

ATF National Center for Explosives Training and Research (NCETR), and the U.S. Army G-38

• Excellence in Public Safety and Community Resilience

• Raven’s Challenge

• Raven’s Challenge Exercises, which are administered by the ATF National Center for Explosives Training and Research (NCETR) and funded by the U.S. Army G-38, are the largest, globally recognized explosives ordnance and public safety bomb specialist training events in the world.

• The Raven’s Challenge is an annual, national-level, interagency, and international counter-improvised explosive device exercise series focused on improving interoperability between public safety bomb squads and military explosive ordnance disposal by incorporating threat scenarios in realistic operational environments.

• Focusing on emerging threats and scene exploitation are key elements to anticipate future IED threats.

• Raven’s Challenge Exercise scenarios focus on capabilities between public safety bomb squads and military EOD teams in operational environments.

(Learn more about the Raven’s Challenge Interoperability Exercise, an international training event to prepare and counter the threat of improvised explosive devices. Courtesy of ATFHQ and YouTube.)

• Raven’s Challenge Exercises involve EOD teams from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Marine Corps, including active duty, reserve, and guard components; local and state PSBS; Department of Defense; Department of Justice; and international law enforcement.

• International participation has increased to include North Atlantic Treaty Organization NATO nations and other European and North African nations, whose close collaboration and participation are a testament to the C-IED expertise and professionalism of all involved and the importance of the subject matter.

• Supporting military and public safety bomb technician annual training requirements, Raven’s Challenge guides policy regarding C-IED national preparedness efforts.

• The challenge continues to grow public safety partnerships between local, state, and international jurisdictions for the prevention, protection, mitigation, and response to man-made threats faced by nations and their communities, with collaborations and tailored scenarios that expose participants to emerging threats in diverse environments keep this full-scale exercise extremely relevant and at the cutting edge of C-IED global exercises.

(In early March 2023, ATF, U.S. military, and law enforcement members descended on Pinal Airpark near Marana for the first of this year’s Raven’s Challenge exercises. Raven’s Challenge exercises incorporate scenarios focused on interoperability capabilities between public safety bomb squads and military explosive ordnance disposal units in operational environments. Pinal Airpark’s unique setup, which allows access to full-size retired aircraft, and the open space and hospitable weather make it the perfect facility for this type of exercise. Courtesy of Pinal County and YouTube.)

• ATF NCETR consolidates the agency’s key explosives, fire, canine, and response operations at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama.

• NCETR consists of the Explosives Enforcement and Training Division; Explosives Research and Development Division; and the Fire Investigation and Arson Enforcement Division.

• Other components include the National Canine Division in Front Royal, Virginia, and the National Explosives Task Force in Washington, District of Columbia.

• NATO recognizes Raven’s Challenge Exercises as the leading edge counter improvised explosives device exercise.

• *The ATF was also Recognized in the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program.

The pinnacle of the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security and Government Excellence Awards is the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Ceremony and Banquet Luncheon.

In 2023, this exclusive sold-out event featured at ISC East, well over two hundred representatives of law enforcement, public safety, and industry leaders came together to honor the selfless service of those who stand on the front lines – and those who stand beside them – providing the capabilities and technologies to create a safer world for future generations.

Comprehensive collaborations between these private and public sectors have led to the development of innovative intelligence and technologies that serve to protect our Nation.

Steven Dettelbach, Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms (ATF) and Explosives, delivered the keynote address at the 2023 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security and Excellence in Public Safety Awards Ceremony and Banquet Luncheon.

Director Dettelbach spoke with passion on the epidemic of Gun Violence by Illegal Guns taking place across the United States, which results in over 125 deaths daily and impacting generations of families – leaving open chairs at holiday events.

Firearm injuries were the leading case of death for children for the third year in a row, he explained, and have doubled in the U.S. since 2021, levels that are simply intolerable.

Director Dettelbach lauded the strong partnerships with Federal, State, Local, and Tribal Policing that ATF has earned and relies upon to reduce violence and spoke with admiration as a former prosecutor on the selfless sense of mission and drive that is universal across the entire First Responder Community.

The prestigious Annual ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program highlights the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.

The ‘ASTORS’ was specifically designed to honor distinguished government and vendor solutions that deliver enhanced value, benefit, and intelligence to end-users in a variety of government, homeland security, enterprise, and public safety vertical markets.

(See a few highlights during the 2023 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security and Government Excellence Awards Ceremony and Banquet Luncheon in NYC during ISC East on November 16, 2023. Courtesy of AST, My Pristine Images, and Vimeo.)

AST puts forward the Largest and Most Qualified Circulation in Government with Over 75,000 readers on the Federal, State and Local levels.

AST Digital Publications are distributed to over 75,000 qualified government and homeland security professionals in federal, state, local, and private security sectors.

‘PROTECTING OUR NATION, ONE CITY AT A TIME’

AST Reaches Private and public Experts, essential to meeting these new challenges.

Today’s new generation of public safety and security experts need real-time knowledge to deal with domestic and international terrorism, lone wolf attacks, unprecedented urban violence, shifts in society, culture, and media bias – making it increasingly difficult for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Military and Private Security Professionals to implement coordinated security measures to ensure national security and improve public safety.

These experts are from the Government at the federal, state, and local levels, as well as from private firms allied to the government.

AST provides a full plate of topics in our AST Monthly Magazine Editions, AST Website, and AST Daily News Alerts, covering 23 Vital Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities, and Emergency Response among others.

AST has Expanded readership into integral Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants and Dams, Bridges and Tunnels, and other potential targets of terrorism.

Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting and Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools and Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – all enticing targets due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.

To learn more about ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award Winners solutions, Be On the LookOut for the 2023 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS Edition Fully Interactive Magazine – the Best Products of 2023 ‘A Year in Review.’

The Annual CHAMPIONS edition reviews ‘ASTORS’ Award Winning products and programs, highlighting key details on many of the winning firm’s products and services, including video interviews and more.

It will serve as your Go-To Source throughout the year for ‘The Best of 2023 Products and Services’ endorsed by American Security Today and can satisfy your agency’s and/or organization’s most pressing Homeland Security and Public Safety needs.

From Physical Security (Access Control, Critical Infrastructure, Perimeter Protection, and Video Surveillance Cameras and Video Management Systems), to IT Security (Cybersecurity, Encryption, Data Storage, Anti-Malware, and Networking Security – to name a few), the 2023 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS EDITION will have WHAT YOU NEED to Detect, Delay, Respond to, and Mitigate today’s real-time threats in our constantly evolving security landscape.

It will also include featured guest editorial pieces from some of the security industry’s most respected leaders and recognized firms in the 2023 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.

AST strives to meet a 3 STAR trustworthiness rating, based on the following criteria:

• Provides named sources
• Reported by more than one notable outlet
• Includes supporting video, direct statements, or photos

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