Lawmakers became dissatisfied and expressed their resentment over the claims that the Capitol Police left their service weapons in bathrooms and other spots of the Capitol Complex for at least 3 times this year. A recent incident drew the attention of the concerned quarters when a child found a loaded Glock while visiting the Capitol.
In a written statement, House Administration Committee Chairwoman Candice Miller, R-Mich and Ranking Member Robert Brady, D-Pa said, “The fact that dangerous weapons were left in the open, potentially within reach of the general public, is unacceptable,”
According to Fox News, the lawmakers may hold a briefing on the incident in next week.
For the entire security entities, such claim of negligence is the latest embarrassing fact. Already, the Capitol Police and other concerned security bodies are under investigation over a last month incident where a man violated restricted airspace and landed a gyrocopter just next to the Capitol. Capitol Police board is also reviewing the report of misplaced firearms for several occasions.
The newspaper reported about the recent incident that a member of House Speaker John Boehner’s detail allegedly left a gun in a bathroom in March which was later found by an 8 year old child.
Earlier, another firearm was found stuffed in a restroom stall in the Capitol Visitor’s Centre last January which has been discovered by a Capitol worker. The gun reportedly belongs to one of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s security member. Recently, for the third time, Custodial staffs found a weapon two weeks ago at the Capitol Police headquarters. The most alarming thing is that these firearms are Glocks and do not have conventional safeties, they will fire if the trigger is pulled.
Miller and Brady further said in their statement that “We will be looking for a full briefing on these incidents, how they happened, what corrective action has been taken, and how we hopefully do not have similar instances in the future,”
Their committee is designated to oversee the House security.
Capitol Police spokeswoman Lt. Kimberly Schneider said her department takes security breaches very seriously. However, she declined to comment on the specific incidents.