On Friday a man jumped the fence in front of the White House and made it all the way up to an unlocked front door before being tackled by security. So now according to the Washington Post the Secret Service is considering increasing the buffer area around the White House.
It’s a natural reaction to say “increase the security- whatever it takes!” after an incident like this but let me offer another perspective. I’ve lived in Washington before and after the attacks of 9-11 and believe me security has already dramatically increased. Streets are closed, the attitude and aggressiveness of the Capitol Hill and SCOTUS police have changed and there are so many more areas restricted and off-limits to ordinary Americans. The outside upper level around the Capitol with the dramatic view of the Mall and the Washington Monument is still closed to the general public and you never know when a guard will scream at you to get off a sidewalk because a motorcade is coming down the street.
Here’s my thoughts about this in a 2004 cartoon: 