Letter: Time to rethink Homeland Security

Since 9/11, our government has made major investments such as the Transportation Security Administration program and massive communications data collection. This has helped reduce foreign-sponsored terrorism, but has been less effective with domestic terrorism.

I believe that Orlando might have been avoided with more extensive FBI investigation, monitoring and control of Omar Mateen’s activities. Increases in manpower and the FBI budget would be required, which should be seriously considered by our government. Military personnel also could help, given the their training and experience in the Middle East.

I think we are learning that the freedom we enjoy requires that we strengthen law enforcement with well-trained personnel. Not withstanding Orlando, FBI capabilities have improved significantly since 9/11 as a proven agency. Less evidence of progress exists, though, in some other Homeland Security programs.

Many will call for improvements in our gun-purchase laws. Unfortunately, millions of weapons are already widely available, which terrorists can easily obtain. The potential terrorists are the primary problem we must control before they attack.

Recently, both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have called for improved intelligence to find potential terrorists, but they have not specified operative methods to keep them from launching attacks. Let’s all make sure we ask all our candidates in the coming debates what their workable plans are to really address these potential terrorist threats, which could easily increase in the future. Hopefully, they’ll be better than mine.

This story was originally published June 29, 2016 at 5:52 PM with the headline "Letter: Time to rethink Homeland Security."