So a man drinking alcohol at the state Capitol after hours gets into a confrontation with a state law enforcement officer, and that somehow gets tied to a bill already in the Legislature for more security at the Capitol building for the lawmakers and their staff.
Can we marvel just for a moment at how convoluted that is?
Lawmakers were not there when the shooting happened at 8:30 at night on a federal holiday. The place was quiet, lights off, offices locked, and as far we know, the deceased was the only one drinking on property, unless some folks hiding in offices upstairs were hoisting a few behind closed doors.
The person who ended up dead was not a lawmaker, a member of the Sheriff’s Department or a staffer working late on behalf of the people of this state. The deceased was possibly trespassing, allegedly combative and certainly unfortunate that things escalated so quickly but was not, as far as we know, trying to storm the castle. To call for metal detectors and barriers and some sort of, what, wall around the Capitol seems like an overreaction, shortsighted, knee-jerky with a whiff of, “You guys, this is not about YOU” as an undercurrent.
It is not hard to imagine lawmakers might not always feel safe at the Capitol. The underground parking is echoey and dark. People show up to testify with a belly full of rage. Legislative staff must deal with plenty of irate phone calls and emails. In 2019 fury is fashionable.
But so much of the Capitol area has the feeling of chaos just about to break loose, from the people on Richards Street screaming at the voices in their heads to smashing windows at Iolani Palace to the lady who had to be talked down from the church roof the other week. State lawmakers are justified if they feel unsafe downtown. Lots of people feel unsafe downtown. This should serve to motivate lawmakers to work toward positive changes for the community, not wall themselves away.
The Capitol, now celebrating its 50th anniversary, is unique among state capitols nationwide. It was
intended to be wide open, to welcome the tradewinds and mauka showers as well as the lines of visiting preschoolers, the swarms of activists who show up in the same-color T-shirt to emphasize unity and the random citizen with a box of manapua and a couple of questions. It was not meant for concrete barriers and airport-style screenings.
Let’s get the sheriffs some Tasers and body cameras and maybe some better training in defensive arts. Let’s get more closed-circuit television cameras at the Capitol. Mostly, let’s work to make downtown more like it was when that open, welcoming Capitol was first built.
Reach Lee Cataluna at 529-4315 or lcataluna@staradvertiser.com.
