Discuss New Jersey Homeland Security: Liberty State Park (Essay Sample)

New Jersey Homeland Security
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Introduction
New Jersey is one of the American states. It covers 8,729 square miles and has one of the most robust economies. Besides, it has one of the highest median household income among the American states at a staggering $55,149. Moreover, New Jersey boasts of nine wealthiest states among the top 100 wealthiest counties. In regards to the crime rates, New Jersey has one of the lowest crime rates in the country. It has a lesser violent crimes as well as property crimes (Gallo, 2018). Furthermore, New Jersey also has various tourist attraction sites that predispose it to various security risks. Examples of such places include Liberty State Park, Island Beach State, and Barnegat Lighthouse State Park. Moreover, New Jersey has also experienced a resurgence of the homegrown violent extremists (Gallo, 2018). Therefore, the paper will cover Liberty State Park, Barnegat Lighthouse Park, and homegrown violent extremists in regards to their threats and vulnerabilities.
Liberty State Park
Liberty Park is one of the parks found in New Jersey. It is situated in the Upper New York Bay, and it is opposite Ellis Island and Liberty Island. The area covered by the park is 1,212 acres and was officially opened in the year 1976. The park has water bordering it on three different sides. The first side is towards the north where the Morris Canal binds it while on the east and southern side by the Upper New York Bay. The park is offering different fun things to all its visitors of all ages. Moreover, it has also miles of walkways where visitors can walk, jog, bike, or even rollerblade (Susan, 2017).
There are also guides who can assist the visitors during the Segway tour. The abundance of water and breeze around it makes it a perfect place for the flying of the kite. Therefore, the Liberty State Park is a tourist destination for both the locals and the foreigners. Consequently, the park is a potential security threat and vulnerable to the state of New Jersey. However, the authorities prioritize the safety of the visitors and the locals together with their properties. Moreover, I chose the Liberty State Park because it is one of the most visited tourist sites in New Jersey. Therefore, it is a possible target for the terrorists. As a result, it is of great importance to review its security situation and preparedness (Susan, 2017).
Threats and vulnerabilities of the Liberty State Park
Just like any other tourist attraction center, the Liberty State Park also has its security risks and vulnerabilities. First, the New Jersey as a whole though looking as if it experiences political stability; political uncertainty characterizes it. Politically, anything can happen anytime. It makes the park to be vulnerable and risks influenced by the external forces in regards to issues of security. Moreover, the park is surrounded by the cities having multicultural population. Besides, the towns surrounding the park also harbors different criminals. It makes the security of the park to be in the questionable state. Moreover, the fact that the Liberty State Park is attracting millions of visitors each year makes it an easy target for the terrorism. However, there has never been a serious indicator that the terrorists can hit the park, it does not mean that it is safe. Additionally, the fact that the park is located in the American soil makes it possible to be a primary target. As a result, there are security measures in place to ensure that it does not happen (Zavian, 2017).
One of the notable security measure that the park has in place is through screening. They perform this to ensure the safety of its visitors together with their belongings security screening. The park values security above everything else (Zavian, 2014). The first level of protection is conducted at the main entry of the park where illegal items are searched and illuminated. After the first screening, other screening are held at different levels depending on the section of the park a visitor would wish to access. However, it is imperative to keep in mind that some items deemed illegal could be allowed into the park based on the type of the ticket. It means that some illegal weapons that can be potential harm to the visitors can gain entry into the park. Therefore, it can be argued that the park management by making some illegal weapons and items to access the park are causing the security threat and making it vulnerable (Susan, 2017).
Barnegat Lighthouse State Park
Barnegat Lighthouse State Park is also another park that is found in Ocean County of the New Jersey. The location of the park is in the northern strip of Long Beach Island. The lighthouse is situated in the area where ships used to navigate from and to the New York Harbor. The vessel used the Barnegat lighthouse to avoid the shoals. These shoals used to extend from the shoreline. Apart from the presence of the shoals, the navigators used the tower to prevent the shifting sandbars together with the swift currents (Chizmadia & Kennish, 2017).
Besides, the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry does the operation and maintaining of the park. The park offers a various variety of fun things for its visitors. Some of the attraction sites include bird watching, trailing, picnicking, and fishing (Fritsch, 2012). Just like the case of the Liberty State Park, the Barnegat Lighthouse State Park also has its security threats and vulnerabilities. However, like in the case of the Liberty State Park, the authorities gave the security priority to the locals, the visitors, as well as their properties. Barnegat Lighthouse State Park is not only a tourist attraction site but also a historical place. Therefore, I chose it because it can be an easy target for the terrorist attacks (Chizmadia & Kennish, 2017).
Threats and vulnerabilities of the Barnegat Lighthouse State Park
Nevertheless, the Barnegat Lighthouse State Park attracts millions of people around the world not only to enjoy the beautiful sceneries but also to participate in different sporting activities associated with the park. In most cases, places where millions of people visit on a yearly basis form an easy target for the terrorists. It means that one of the significant security threats and vulnerabilities of the Barnegat Lighthouse State Park is terrorism. One of such factors is the rising crime rates in areas surrounding the park. Terrorism and insecurity always complement each other. Arguably, areas prone to cases of insecurity always make terrorism to thrive. Therefore, it is believed that the ever-rising crime rates in areas around the Barnegat Lighthouse State Park cause it to be vulnerable to terrorist attack (Fritsch, 2012).
Another factor that makes the park vulnerable is the demographic of the cities surrounding the park. These neighborhoods of the park are both multicultural and multiracial. It means that it can easily attract people from all over the world without the knowledge of the security personnel. Therefore, there is a possibility of planning an attack based on the diverse nature of the park. Another factor that makes the park’s security vulnerable is the inadequate surveillance at the park. Despite the fact that the park boast of surveillance cameras together with surveillance security personnel, some security experts are of the opinion that they are not enough to guarantee absolute security. It is because; the park has not elaborately outlined their measures of combatting and preventing other forms of terrorism such as chemical and biological terrorism (Chizmadia & Kennish, 2017).
Homegrown violent extremists
According to the report released the year 2017 by the Terrorism Threat Assessment from the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, the homegrown Violent Extremists are the top in the list of the threats facing the security of the New Jersey. Homegrown extremists have been a top security risk for the second time in a row. Besides, the director of the New Jersey Office of the Homeland Security and Preparedness (NJOHSP) went further to reveal that the state of New Jersey is facing a new fa...