Active Shooters & Mass Shootings
Major News Outlets Continuing the Coverage

Trump calls for 'intelligent background checks' in response to mass shootings
President Trump Friday called for "intelligent" background checks in response to a string of mass shootings across the country, and expressed confidence that Congress would come together on action. 

"Frankly, we need intelligent background checks," Trump told reporters as he left the White House for a fundraiser in the Hamptons. He said he's spoken with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who Trump said was "totally on board."

McConnell has not publicly backed any gun bills following mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton, though he did note a background checks bill backed by Sens. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) was once again getting attention. That bill failed to get enough votes to move through the Senate after the 2012 Sandy Hook elementary school shootings.

"I think there's a great appetite to do something with regard to making sure mentally unstable, seriously ill people aren't carrying guns, and I've never seen the appetite as strong as it is now," he added. "I have not seen it with regards to certain types of weapons." thehill.com

Active Shooter Top Concern this Weekend in TX
Texas Retailers Preparing for Wary Crowds During Tax-Free Weekend
Walmart Deploying Additional AP Teams
Retailers used to consider crowd control and shoplifters as they prepared each year for thousands of back-to-school shoppers taking advantage of Texas' tax-free holiday in early August.

After Saturday's mass shooting at an El Paso Walmart that killed at least 22 shoppers, retailers must now consider how they will respond to a greater threat: active shooters.

Houston-area retailers and police sought to reassure shoppers expected to descend on local stores for the tax-free holiday, taking place Friday through Sunday. The weekend-long tax break will waive as much as 8.25 percent in state and local sales taxes on clothing, shoes, school supplies and backpacks.

"We normally increase directed patrols during tax-free weekend, but we're taking into account what happened in El Paso," said John Cannon, a Houston Police spokesman. "People will see additional visibility in more established retail centers throughout the city."

Walmart said it may deploy additional "asset protection teams" on a store-by-store basis in the aftermath of the weekend shooting. The yellow-vested employees standing at Walmart entrances typically greet customers, process returns and check receipts to deter shoplifting, but are also now being trained to handle customer arguments and play a security role, said Randy Hargrove, a Walmart spokesman.

The Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer employs third-party security guards or uniformed off-duty police officers at some of its stores that experience more crime. Walmart did not have any armed security personnel at its store in El Paso.

"Security is a top priority for us, and we've invested quite a bit in safety," Hargrove said. "But no retailer is immune to this challenge or can predict violence."

Walmart has been training its employees how to respond to active shooters since 2015, making the training mandatory on a quarterly basis since 2017. In recent months, Walmart has added virtual reality headsets to its computer-based active-shooter training, which advises employees to be cognizant of their surroundings, run or hide from shooters and be prepared to aggressively defend themselves as a measure of last resort. houstonchronicle.com

Walmart Commits $400,000 in Direct Cash Grants to El Paso Foundations
that Support Those Impacted by Tragedy
To address the urgent need of support, Walmart is providing cash donations to the El Paso Community Foundation's Shooting Victims' Fund and Paso Del Norte Community Foundation's El Paso Victims Relief Fund. Walmart is also working closely with local officials and government entities to help meet the needs of those affected.

"Our hearts ache for El Pasoans," said Greg Foran, president and chief executive officer, Walmart U.S. "As we work on helping our associates through this tragedy, we also want to help ensure the community has the resources it needs by providing funds to support the important work the El Paso Community Foundation and the Paso del Norte Community Foundation are doing during this difficult time. We want to support the people of El Paso every step of the way."

In an open letter yesterday to Walmart associates, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon reiterated the company's support for the people of El Paso, first responders, survivors and the families of victims as well as the Walmart family of store associates.

In the letter McMillon recounted acts of bravery and selflessness among the El Paso store associates, including store manager Robert Evans, "who was leaving the store and then ran back in when he heard the shots," as well as others who helped dozens of customers to safety out the back of the store. supermarketnews.com


Man in Body Armor and Armed with rifle sparks panic at Missouri Walmart
The armed man who walked into a Missouri Walmart store dressed in body armor and fatigues and was detained at gunpoint by an off-duty firefighter is "lucky he's alive still" considering the situation he created, a police official said. No shots were fired in the incident that happened just after 4 p.m. Thursday in Springfield. The man who is said to be white and in his 20s was detained by the armed firefighter until police arrived at the Walmart Neighborhood Market. The man in body armor had been seen pushing a shopping cart and recording video of himself on a cellphone. Police were called about a possible active shooter, and the store manager pulled a fire alarm and told people to evacuate, Springfield police Lt. Mike Lucas said. It was not clear what motivated the person in custody to enter the Springfield store. The open carrying of firearms is legal in Missouri, as long as the weapon is not displayed in a threatening manner, according to the National Rifle Association's website. nbcnews.com

Port St. Lucie, FL: Man asked for something 'that would kill 200 people' at Walmart
The alleged incident happened on Wednesday Aug. 7, just four days after a mass shooting at a Walmart in Texas that left 22 people dead and more than two dozen others injured. The suspicious request was reported at a Walmart in Port St. Lucie, Florida, at around 7:11 p.m. The Port St. Lucie police received a tip that helped identify the man as 55-year-old Philip Michael Attey II, who is from Port St. Lucie. Attey approached a sales clerk and allegedly asked "can you sell me anything (or a gun) that would kill 200 people?" according to the police press release. The sales clerk, who was working in the sporting goods department, replied, "that isn't funny," police said. Attey then allegedly replied "I know," before asking again if there was something he could be sold that would kill 200 people. Attey then left the store. During an interview with detectives, Attey said he is an anti-gun activist and that he believes his statements made to the Walmart clerk in front of a customer "only helps his cause which is for Walmart to stop selling firearms," police said. a.msn.com

Walmart removing violent video game displays, signs from stores
but still selling guns
Following two shootings inside its stores, Walmart is removing violent video game displays and signs from stores, the retailer confirmed Thursday.

Stores were sent a memo that called for "immediate action" to remove signing and displays that "contain violent themes or aggressive behavior." The memo circulated on Twitter and Reddit, and Walmart officials confirmed its authenticity to USA TODAY.

"We've taken this action out of respect for the incidents of the past week, and this action does not reflect a long-term change in our video game assortment," said Tara House, a Walmart spokeswoman, in a statement.

On Thursday in Springfield, Missouri, police arrested a 20-year-old man in body armor and military-style clothing after he walked inside a Walmart carrying a "tactical rifle" and another gun. Police say he pushed a shopping cart and used his phone to record people fleeing the store. usatoday.com

GSX 2019 Is Coming To Chicago: Elevating The Event Experience
GSX - the trade show and industry event 'formerly known as' the ASIS Annual Seminar and Exhibits - will be Sept. 8-12 at Chicago's McCormick Place. The show promises to 'elevate the event experience with modern education learning experiences, revitalized networking opportunities, and a reimagined trade show floor.' More than 550 exhibitors will be featured in the expo hall (open Sept. 10-12), according to ASIS International.

More than 300 security courses, plus pre-conference certification courses, will provide security professionals expertise to enhance their career development. Seventeen education tracks will serve the needs of security professionals interested in topics from business continuity to crime/loss prevention, law and ethics to national security, information security to physical and operational security.

More than 20,000 registered attendees are expected from 110-plus countries across the entire industry, according to ASIS International. securityinformed.com

Former KPMG Executive Director Gets 8 Months Fed Prison
Stealing SEC Confidential Info to Improve KPMG Audit Results
CYNTHIA HOLDER, a former Public Company Accounting Oversight Board ("PCAOB") Inspections Leader and KPMG Executive Director, was sentenced today to 8 months in federal prison for participating in a scheme to defraud the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and the PCAOB by obtaining, disseminating, and using confidential lists of which KPMG audits the PCAOB would be reviewing so that KPMG could improve its performance in PCAOB inspections, the results of which were shared with, and utilized by, the SEC in carrying out its governmental functions. justice.gov

Phoenix, AZ: So many things locked behind glass because of people
Caught Misbehaving
If you shop at stores like CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens and even Food City in some parts of Phoenix, be prepared to spend a little extra time in the store. Some shoppers complain that it's making their shopping experience more tedious. he problem, which has been happening for a long time, is theft. First, it was baby formula. Now it seems like just about anything is up for grabs -- toothpaste, body wash, shampoo, detergent, even work gloves. One Safeway grocery store is hit daily by grab-and-run thieves. They load up bags and run out of the store without paying, often to a waiting vehicle. Some stores are pulling specific items off the shelves to prevent theft. Most stores, however, are simply locking items inside glass cabinets. azfamily.com

Texas Wins Challenge to EEOC Guidance on Criminal Background Checks
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) can't treat its guidance on criminal background checks-which states that using such checks may not be lawful in some circumstances-as binding, a federal appeals court ruled. The court upheld but modified a lower court's order blocking the agency from enforcing its guidelines against the state of Texas.

In 2012, the EEOC updated its guidelines on employers' use of arrest or conviction records in hiring decisions. The agency said that relying on such records may have a disparate impact on applicants based on race and national origin, which are protected characteristics under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The state of Texas sued the federal government, claiming that the EEOC exceeded its authority and that the guidelines conflict with Texas laws barring the employment of workers with felony convictions for certain positions. Attorneys for the state argued that Texas should be able to impose categorical bans on hiring workers with criminal backgrounds.

On Aug. 6, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Texas, finding that the EEOC exceeded its authority by issuing the guidance. "Although the scope of the guidance is purportedly broad, EEOC has limited rulemaking and enforcement power with respect to Title VII," the appeals court said. "It may issue only 'procedural regulations' implementing Title VII and may not promulgate substantive rules."  shrm.org

Could we finally see a change in the Bay on ORC?
San Francisco DA Candidates Vowing to Tackle City's Crime Problems -
Including ORC
In a city with a progressive reputation and reformist approach to criminal justice, a high rate of car break-ins and thefts in recent years has led some to call for a tougher-on-crime approach. San Francisco had the highest rate of property crimes among the biggest 20 U.S. cities in 2017, according to FBI data released last year.

One supports reversing some parts of a 2014 ballot initiative that made some felonies misdemeanors, including stealing property worth less than $950.

Tung cited retail stores that have closed in neighborhoods across the city because they lost too much money from organized thieves storming into stores and dashing out with stolen goods, with little fear of major consequences.

Another one said he would crack down on organized gangs of drug dealers and thieves who come to San Francisco to prey on residents and unsuspecting tourists. courthousenews.com

What the CFOs Are Reading
Pay Increases to Remain Flat in 2020: Study
U.S. employers are not planning big pay increases in 2020, despite a tight labor market, according to a survey from Willis Towers Watson.

The 2019 General Industry Salary Budget Survey found employers are budgeting pay increases of between 2.9% and 3.1% for management employees, non-management employees, nonexempt hourly employees, and nonexempt salaried employees. Companies are planning pay raises of 3.1% for executives, down from 3.2% this year.

Companies are projecting discretionary bonuses - typically paid for special projects or one-time achievements - will average 5.9% of salary for exempt employees, compared with 5.3% of salary granted for bonuses last year, the survey found.

The last big bump in pay came in 2008 when employers raised pay 3.8%. Raises have remained flat at about 3% per year for the last decade. cfo.com
 

An Empty Parking Lot, Filled by El Paso's Grief Behind the Walmart where a gunman opened fire, dancers, mariachis and prayers commemorate the victims. nytimes.com