A news item out of New York is saying that a law maker there is calling for nuclear plants to be fortified against air attack. Either guns or missiles. Since most of these are owned by private companies, this sounds like a real risk of a corp having heavy firepower and being exempted from normal security concerns.

Private security firms already maintain very seriously armed presence at nuclear power plants. They have for many years, and the Department of Energy specifically has had a longstanding contract with Wackenhut to train their personnel--such as the armed drivers and escorts of nuclear materials.

That's the kind of security Seretech and Shiawase had back in the day. As for anything larger, considering the lack of real interest by the federal government in securing nuclear and chemical facilities and their oversight of things like missiles and AAA (I'd love to see the ATF paperwork you need to fill out to purchase, maintain and operate MANPADS) this will never, ever happen.

in russia there is allready such a thing as an armed security corp . . heck the us of a (make from that what you will) are using so called security corps as mercenaries in their war against terror . . if i am not mistaken then our local SUBWAY POLICE . . yes, you read that right, our local public transport corp has an own security unit called subway police additionally to the subway guard and the red barrets(don't know how they are called, but they wear those things as part of their uniform). . which are all armed with at least mace and tasers . .

Blackwater shows that armed sec firms exist in this ocuntry. I think DLN is on to something. Sure it's a politician pandering. New york has more than it's share-anyone else here about a proposal for New York's "Pigeon Czar?" BUT she's right, that this could even be suggested, and not cause outrage, lets you know we are getting close. I'm sure someone would happily freak if there was an AT 6pounder by the front gate of Indian Point, but knowing there's a stinger or three or a bofors, iside the wire, nah, people won't blink, and if some geek gets trigger happy and blasts bejezus out of a Hudson valley sight seeing plane that looked too agressive, the government will give it a pass.
know why?
because of cost. They don't want to handle the cost of security, but if some trigger happy guard goes over the top they have to admitt a mistake or blasme the victim. serriously, it's hte government, what dso you htink will happen? and that brings us one giant step closer to corp extraterritoriality.

Holy Typos, Batman!

Well, the government would care because at the least the massive subsidies (especially underwriting insurance policies than otherwise no insurance company on Earth would ever sell to any plant) means that they (that is, WE) pay for Security Guard Itchy Triggerfinger.

Blackwater has had personnel operate within the United States using the same weapons as they use in Iraq. The only difference being that there isn't much of a question about whether a guard could be prosecuted, but by whom. That said, Blackwater and its ilk exist primarily on the premise that their personnel are trained to carry and operate the types of weaponry, and within the environments that the corporation operates. In New York's case, I wonder how seriously this legislator has considered it given the fact that if he really wanted he could have just sponsored a bill for the New York Guard, or the NY Naval Militia--two existing state militia units--or the National Guard, any of which presumably knows how to operate in a military environment with military weapons, and which are able to be federalized under the very circumstances in which this would come to pass--to operate them in the waters or coastlines (or both) near the reactors.

Corporations always have been able to maintain armed guards whose purpose is to protect the property and employees. They can arm them with whatever weapons they can legally obtain and choose to provide.

Heck, Disney could almost certainly have it's own police force, with all the additional spiffy abilities that you get for being a sworn police officer instead of a security guard (and there are a LOT).

Most companies choose to not do this. It doesn't mean that they can't.

The fact the SR makes a huge deal over this just proves that the people who wrote the background way back in the 80's were taking too many magic mushrooms washed down with scotch to pay much attention to reality.

Do not pick of SF's typing. She's getting better.
Disney in Florida is its own town with its own police.

I think the point is that the corps might be getting heavy weapons. Snow Fox said better than I could, that once they have them, at government insistence, the government will protect their use.

Yes I think we are a way off, but the fact it is even a discussion shows where it is heading.

The pigeon czar is a good example of how loopy New York politics can get. Who needs graft when insanity runs the house?

Blackwater is under investigation for smuggling small arms/light weapons.