North Carolina legislature joins security check parade

RALEIGH, N.C. — At the “People’s House” in North Carolina, lawmakers have long considered unfettered access symbolic of their commitment to accessible government. As a matter of principle, leaders have avoided putting up any barriers at the statehouse that might prevent constituents from speaking directly to their representatives.

But growing worries within society about mass shootings and angry protests have finally tipped the scale.

Following other states, all visitors started going through metal detectors this past week to enter the Legislative Building, just ahead of the General Assembly session opening this Wednesday.

“I’ve always admired the fact — and been grateful for the fact — that it had been one of the most open government buildings you could find anywhere,” said Jack Cozort, a longtime lobbyist who remembers first visiting the Legislative Building on an eighth-grade field trip a year after it opened in 1963. But he said colleagues knew sooner or later this “necessary evil was coming.”

In addition to the metal detectors at the front and rear entrances, administrators also installed bag scanners, hired more monitors, strengthened parking garage entrances and purchased more hightech equipment as part of the $1.3 million security upgrade.

“I am saddened that the world has changed and that these types of safety precautions have become necessary,” said Senate leader Phil Berger, who with fellow Republican House Speaker Tim Moore signed off on the changes. “I expect our staff will continue to make every effort to ensure the Legislative Building is accessible and welcoming to the public.”

At least five other states have installed metal detectors since 2014, according to an Associated Press review.