Gas Masks Being Stockpiled on Capitol Hill

New York Times ^ | Wednesday, June 26, 2002

[JohnHuang2]

June 26, 2002

Gas Masks Being Stockpiled on Capitol Hill

By THE NEW YORK TIMES

ASHINGTON, June 25 — The Capitol Police are stockpiling up to 25,000 gas masks to protect tourists, lawmakers and their staffs in case of a terrorist attack, Congressional officials said tonight.

The purchase of the masks, one official said, was not prompted by any new terrorist threat but is part of an "ongoing process" that began after the Sept. 11 attacks and the subsequent mailing of letters containing anthrax to several members of Congress. While there have long been gas masks available on the floor of the House, the Capitol police decided to increase the stock to be able to protect tourists who are once again being allowed into the building.

The program was to be announced on Wednesday to members of Congress, an official said. The gas masks are part of an array of new security measures. Street barriers now slow traffic around the Capitol and the Capitol police have added hundreds of extra officers to the force.

[JohnHuang2]

Wednesday, June 26, 2002

Quote of the Day by RooRoobird14

[piasa]

The Capitol Police are stockpiling up to 25,000 gas masks to protect tourists, lawmakers and their staffs in case of a terrorist attack, Congressional officials said tonight.

Knowing the size of the federal government, I'm pretty sure that once those masks are handed out to lawmakers and their staff and government offices, there won't be any left for tourists.

[piasa]

If we could just wean Kennedy and Nadler off of the bean soup there wouldn't be a need for gas masks at all.

[kcvl]

They're too stupid to figure out how they work so it won't matter much anyway.

[areafiftyone]

Didn't they stockpile them when the Anthrax nutjob was sending his sick letters in the mail? Don't they realize that these things won't help them? HOW STUPID AND COWARDLY ARE OUR CONGRESSMEN!

[Bars4Bill]

the Capitol police decided to increase the stock to be able to protect tourists

. . . from the stench of corruption.

[advocate10]

Correct! In most circumstances, the gas mask is of very little use.

To be protected, you need a full ensamble mask, hood and complete body cover. One microdrop of a nerve agent is fatal, and no mask protects from that.

Congress better hope they are attacked by nothing worse than tear gas!

[freeperfromnj]

The purchase of the masks, one official said, was not prompted by any new terrorist threat

They claim it is not in response to a particular threat but it sure seems like they are trying to get these bio-defense props into the hands of the public before the Fourth of July. Last week they were distributing iodide pills, this week it's gas masks.

[piasa]

LOL, very true.

I doubt the country would notice if the masks didn't work, either, as I am pretty sure we could get along fine without most of the bozos in the Capitol building. Just elect a fresh batch... or nominate the apes at the National Zoo. They know how to feed from a trough, sit around and screech, and can pick nits as well as any Senator.