Ammonium Security Act and the Sandy Recovery Act

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The United States was built on an agrarian system. The ability to grow crops helped create an economic backbone for the county. The use of fertilizer became a norm in farming and agriculture and was not considered a potentially harmful substance. Modern science in combination with the terrorist mind has looked at fertilizer as a weapon, particularly those containing ammonium nitrate. The Ammonium Nitrate Security Program shows how far the United States has progressed by regressing when the issue of terrorism is presented into the conversation. Terrorists are using readily available tools which can be purchased legally without knowledge of law enforcement personnel. The Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013 also reflected a commitment to times past as it contained an amendment to the Stafford Act. The amendment provided direct access to FEMA by federally recognized Native American tribes residing on reservations. The sovereignty gained to the judicial system has extended to times of need during a disaster or state of emergency. It allotted the Native American community a needed tool in efforts to maintain a minimal quality of life in the case of an emergency. Ammonium Nitrate Security Program Ammonium nitrate, on its own, is relatively harmless in regards to explosives. Ammonium Nitrate is a secondary explosive; it requires a primary explosive for detonation. It is able to burn without detonating and can withstand shock in which primary explosives are unable to do When ammonium nitrate is mixed with fuel oil and detonated the results can be catastrophic. The Oklahoma City bombing of 1995 is evidence of the impact of a blast using ammonium nitrate and fuel oil, known as ANFO. Timothy McVeigh parked a van filled with ammonium nit... ... middle of paper ... ...ssentially they are their own country. In order for the tribe to have the tools necessary to maximize FEMA in case of an emergency, training must be provided on the reservations. The nuiances of each reservation can be addressed as well as the risks. Tribes would then be able to provide its members with the a better chance for a speedy recovery process. Conclusion The Department of Homeland Security was created in an effort to communicate more efficiently and to twart potential threats of terrorism. The failure to enact the Ammonium Nitrate Security Act is a failure to create a simple process which could provided another level of safety against a terrorist attack. The Sandy Recovery Act was a step in the right direction to aid Native American tribes residing on reservations but is only one step in a bigger process to achieve the effectiveness need for the race.

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