Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Operation of buildings on the Capitol Comex is the purview of the Illinois secretary of state‘s office, so State Rep. John Cabello (R-Machesney Park) took the occasion of Alexi Giannoulias visiting the House floor Friday to talk about security, which Cabello says is insufficient.

“There’s unbelievable cameras out there now that can see quite some distance.” Cabello said in an interview after his floor speech. “You see somebody in a vehicle that catches a police officer’s eye, they look and, all of a sudden, he is taking out AR-15’s and whatever he’s got. They may be able to take care of the situation way before anybody is put in danger.

Security is one component of the ongoing construction projects at the Capitol Complex. Included: moving the main entrance and the security station away from the Capitol’s north wing so people will have gone through security before entering the Capitol.

Cabello, who said, “It doesn’t seem that anybody on this campus really cares about public safety.” says he’s heard nothing from anybody.

The secretary of state’s office has not responded to our request for comment.