Second Guessing is Planning for the Future
Segment # 596
Charlie Kirk’s security team and local law enforcement were only prepared to deal with an attack on the stage. The buildings were not locked down and no drones were in the air. In light of the failures at Butler this, in my judgment is a horrendous failure. This successful assassination resulted in terrible threat assessment. this did not have to happen this way. It is important to make a complete strategic security assessment which I have dine below. We should have learned from Butler. WE must learn from Utah or it will happen again. Consider the fact that this kid was an amateur. You can bet there are trained experienced terrorist assassins in the country right now
There is a reasonable and ongoing concern that foreign terrorist cells could be in the U.S. waiting to strike. This concern is regularly highlighted by U.S. government agencies and experts in counter terrorism. Many venues in the US offer soft targets easily exploited by highly trained terrorists tasked to create division and chaos in our country.
Here's a breakdown of the key factors that contribute to this concern:
Intelligence and Law Enforcement Assessments: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the FBI consistently release threat assessments that state the domestic terrorism threat environment remains high. While a significant portion of the focus is on domestic violent extremists, foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) and their sympathizers are also a persistent threat.
Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Their Intent: Organizations like ISIS, al-Qaeda, Hamas, and Hezbollah maintain an enduring intent to conduct or inspire attacks in the U.S. They have demonstrated a capability and willingness to use online networks to recruit and radicalize individuals to violence. The threat has evolved from large-scale, centrally planned plots to a greater emphasis on "lone offenders" or small groups who self-radicalize and act with little or no warning.
Iranian-Backed Threats: In the context of global conflicts, particularly those involving the U.S. and Iran, there have been specific warnings about the potential for Iranian-backed "sleeper cells" to be activated in the U.S. Law enforcement has disrupted multiple such plots since 2020.
Border Security Concerns: There are public concerns, often tied to political discourse, about the potential for individuals on the terrorist watchlist to cross the border and enter the country undetected. While the number of encounters with such individuals at the border has been reported, security officials and policymakers continue to debate the extent of this vulnerability.
The Evolving Nature of Terrorism: The rise of technology, including encrypted messaging apps and artificial intelligence, is a growing concern. Terrorist groups are using these tools to communicate, spread propaganda, and coordinate attacks in ways that are more difficult for authorities to detect and stop.
Attacks and Disrupted Plots: The fact that law enforcement agencies have repeatedly disrupted potentially lethal, foreign-backed plots in recent years demonstrates that the threat is not theoretical, but active.
In summary, while the U.S. has a robust counter terrorism framework, the threat from foreign terrorist cells and their sympathizers remains a serious concern due to persistent intent from FTOs, geopolitical conflicts, and the evolving methods terrorists use to plan and execute attacks.
The cost to launch a security drone to patrol an outdoor venue can vary significantly based on whether you are purchasing the drone yourself or hiring a drone service. Here is a breakdown of the costs associated with both options:
1. Hiring a Drone Service
This is often the most straightforward and cost-effective option for a single event or occasional use, as it includes the drone, pilot, and associated services.
Hourly Rate: Drone service rates for security and surveillance can range from $100 to $750 per hour, depending on the pilot's experience and the complexity of the job.
Day Rate: Some companies offer a day rate, which can be anywhere from $1,000 to $2,500 for 8-10 hours of work.1
Factors Affecting Price: The final cost will depend on:
Pilot Expertise: A more experienced pilot with a high-end drone and advanced skills will charge more.2
Equipment: The use of specialized drones with thermal imaging, high-resolution cameras, or other advanced sensors will increase the price.
Project Complexity: The size of the venue, the duration of the patrol, and any specific requirements (e.g., real-time data streaming, integration with existing security systems) will influence the cost.
Location: Rates can be higher in major metropolitan areas due to increased operating costs.
2. Purchasing Your Own Security Drone
If you plan to use a security drone for ongoing, long-term patrols, buying the equipment may be a better long-term investment. The initial costs, however, are substantial.
Drone Costs: Security and commercial-grade drones are significantly more expensive than consumer models.
Entry-Level Commercial Drones: These can range from $2,000 to $10,000.
High-End Commercial/Industrial Drones: These advanced models with features like thermal sensors, long flight times, and autonomous capabilities can cost anywhere from $10,000 to over $50,000. Some specialized, large-scale systems can even exceed this range.
"Drone-in-a-Box" Systems: These fully autonomous solutions that include a drone, a charging station (dock), and software for automated patrols are a popular choice for security. The cost for these can be significant, often in the tens of thousands of dollars.
Additional Costs: The drone itself is only one part of the total cost. You must also factor in:
Licensing and Permits: To operate a commercial drone, you will need to obtain the necessary licenses and permits, such as an FAA Part 107 certification in the United States.3 This involves training and exam fees.
Training and Labor: You will need to hire or train a pilot to operate the drone legally and effectively.
Maintenance: Drones require regular maintenance, including replacement parts like batteries and propellers.
Insurance: Commercial drone insurance is essential to protect against liability and equipment damage.
Software and Accessories: This includes specialized software for patrol automation, data analysis, and accessories like extra batteries, carrying cases, and charging stations.
Cost Comparison
While the initial investment for a drone is high, a single security drone can be a cost-effective alternative to traditional security methods in the long run.4 Some sources suggest that drone security can be up to 60% cheaper than hiring traditional security guards and significantly less expensive than helicopter patrols.5
Charlie Kirk Security Team
### Overview of Turning Point USA's Security Team Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a prominent conservative nonprofit organization founded by Charlie Kirk in 2012, maintains a private executive protection detail to safeguard its leadership, particularly during public events, speeches, and campus activations. The organization, known for promoting free-market principles and limited government, has faced increasing threats due to its high-profile political activism, including protests, doxxing, and violence from opponents. As a result, TPUSA invests significantly in security—reportedly millions annually—to ensure the safety of Kirk and other key figures. This team is not a government-provided service (like the Secret Service for officials) but a privately funded unit focused on personal protection, venue sweeps, crowd control, and threat assessment.
#### Historical Security Arrangements -
**Previous Provider (2015–2022)**: From 2015 to 2022, TPUSA contracted with the Shaffer Security Group, a professional firm specializing in executive protection. This detail included experienced personnel such as former U.S. Secret Service agents, military veterans, and law enforcement officers. The team traveled with Kirk to events, conducting advance site surveys, providing close-quarters protection, and managing entourage logistics. Kirk has publicly discussed receiving death threats during this period, justifying the need for armed guards and armored vehicles. -
**Current Setup (Post-2022)**: After parting ways with Shaffer Security, TPUSA shifted to an in-house or hybrid model. The executive security team is now led by
**Dan Flood**, a former U.S. Marine Corps veteran with expertise in tactical operations and personal protection. Flood, described in media and social reports as a key figure standing behind Kirk at events (often in a black shirt), oversees a rotating group of 4–8 professionals. This includes: - Close protection officers (CPOs) for immediate physical shielding. - Advance teams for scouting venues and identifying risks. - Drivers trained in evasive maneuvers. The team operates on a budget allocated from TPUSA's resources, which exceed $100 million annually in revenue from donations and events. However, as a private entity, their capabilities are limited compared to federal protection—no mandatory federal involvement unless threats escalate to national security levels.
#### Recent Incident and Criticisms (September 11, 2025) On September 11, 2025, during an outdoor speaking event in Arizona, Charlie Kirk was fatally shot by 22-year-old suspect Thomas Matthew Robinson from approximately 200 yards away, positioned on an unsecured rooftop. Video footage captured the moment, showing Kirk addressing a crowd when the gunshot occurred. Despite the presence of the security team—including Flood—critics and observers have questioned the detail's effectiveness: -
**Rooftop Oversight**: Multiple X posts and news analyses highlighted why nearby rooftops were not monitored or secured, drawing parallels to the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt on Donald Trump in Pennsylvania. Users noted the absence of aerial surveillance (e.g., drones) or perimeter snipers, which are standard for high-threat events. -
**Resource Constraints**: As a nonprofit, TPUSA's team focuses on crowd-facing threats rather than full-site security, relying on local law enforcement for broader venue control. Reports indicate the FBI had prior warnings about suspicious activity (including from students and professors), but no federal advance team was deployed since Kirk is not a protected official. -
**Public Backlash**: Social media erupted with calls for TPUSA to "hire a completely new security team" or invest in bulletproof glass and drones. One post speculated on Flood's background (describing him as potentially of Ashkenazi Jewish descent based on appearance), but this appears unsubstantiated and unrelated to the incident. Others urged remaining leaders to enhance protocols, emphasizing that "it's no longer 'tough' to put yourself out there" without advanced measures. The suspect was apprehended after a manhunt, with surveillance showing him fleeing the rooftop. Investigations are ongoing, with questions about whether local authorities (e.g., the county sheriff) failed to act on tips.
#### Future Enhancements In the wake of the tragedy, TPUSA has announced plans to hire an "enhanced" security detail for future events, including: - Integration of drone surveillance and elevated vantage points. - Partnerships with top-tier firms for comprehensive threat intelligence. - Increased collaboration with local and federal law enforcement for high-profile gatherings, such as the upcoming Greg Gutfeld event in a few months. TPUSA's official statement emphasized a commitment to safety while continuing its mission, with a memorial video for Kirk garnering over 100,000 likes on X.
#### Broader Context TPUSA's security needs stem from its role in conservative activism, including campus chapters, voter outreach via Turning Point Action (its 501(c)(4) sister group), and events like the Believers' Summit. Kirk's visibility—amplified by alliances with figures like Trump—made him a target. The organization has criticized "leftist" threats in the past, such as in a 2017 X post questioning gun control advocates' use of armed guards. Post-incident, discussions on X and in media (e.g., Al Jazeera, Washington Post) underscore rising political violence, with calls for better private security standards across the conservative movement. For the latest updates, monitor TPUSA's official channels or news outlets, as investigations continue.
The Rationale for Not Having Drones
The assassination of Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent conservative activist, occurred on September 10, 2025, during an outdoor speaking event at Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah. Kirk was shot in the neck by a single round from a high-powered bolt-action rifle fired by suspect Tyler Robinson from a rooftop approximately 200 yards away, amid a crowd of about 3,000 attendees. The event was a debate-style forum hosted by Kirk's organization, and despite prior death threats against him, security measures were deemed sufficient by organizers based on pre-event assessments finding no credible threats. No drones were deployed for aerial surveillance during the event, which has drawn significant criticism from security experts, attendees, and commentators in the aftermath. Here's a breakdown of the key reasons why, based on reports from law enforcement, university officials, and security analyses:
### 1. **Lack of Standardized Security Protocols for Outdoor Campus Events** - Unlike indoor venues or high-profile political rallies (e.g., those protected by the Secret Service), there are no federal or universal guidelines mandating drone use for events involving public figures like Kirk. Security decisions are left to the event organizers, private security firms, and campus police, often based on perceived risk and available resources. - UVU, described as an "open campus," did not implement advanced perimeter monitoring like drones because the event was held in an open-air courtyard amphitheater. Pre-event coordination between Kirk's private security team (a five-to-seven-person detail focused primarily on close protection) and UVU police (six officers on site) concluded that basic measures—such as bag checks or metal detectors—were unnecessary for this format. Drones were not discussed or prioritized in these plans.
### 2. **Budget and Resource Constraints** - Kirk's security detail was privately funded through Turning Point USA, and while he traveled with armed guards, the overall setup was modest compared to presidential-level protection. Experts note that deploying drones requires trained operators, FAA approvals (especially near urban areas), and equipment costs, which can add thousands of dollars even for short events. For a college debate, these were not budgeted for, as the focus was on ground-level crowd control rather than elevated threats. - University police resources are typically limited for non-mandatory events. UVU's statement emphasized that the campus's open nature made comprehensive aerial monitoring impractical without additional funding or external support.
### 3. **Institutional and Logistical Hesitations** - Even when drones are feasible, organizers and administrators often avoid them due to liability risks (e.g., potential crashes over crowds), privacy concerns (filming attendees or nearby buildings), and safety regulations. Flying drones over a large gathering of 3,000 people in a populated campus area could violate FAA rules without prior waivers, and institutional barriers like university policies may have discouraged it. - The event's outdoor, semi-public setting meant rooftops were not secured or monitored in advance. The shooter accessed the building via stairwells without detection, highlighting a gap in elevated vantage point checks that a drone could have addressed.
### 4. **Failure to Adapt Lessons from Prior Incidents** - The July 2024 assassination attempt on Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania—where a shooter accessed a nearby rooftop—exposed similar vulnerabilities, yet this did not lead to immediate changes in protocols for figures like Kirk. Commentators and security firms have since called for drones as a "low-cost" solution (e.g., a single operator could scan perimeters in real-time for under $1,000 in equipment), but adoption lags due to the decentralized nature of private event security. - Post-incident analyses, including from firms like Executive Security Concepts, emphasize that drones provide an overhead view of rooftops and blind spots that ground teams miss, potentially spotting the suspect (who was seen running across the roof before firing) in seconds. However, at the time, this was not implemented. In the wake of the shooting, experts predict a shift: Drones are expected to become standard for future outdoor events involving polarizing figures, with calls for better integration into security rings (inner for personal protection, middle for crowds, outer for perimeters). Kirk's widow, Erika, and allies like Trump have vowed to continue his work, while the incident has sparked broader debates on political violence and event safety. The suspect was apprehended within 36 hours after family intervention, but the absence of drones has fueled questions about preventable gaps.