The weekend shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival left three dead -- including two children -- and a dozen wounded at the famous three-day event that attracts more than 100,000 people annually to the agricultural community in Northern California .
Experts ticked off a list of ideal precautions: a perimeter fence -- or even two -- with roving police patrols, as well as drones, security cameras, social media monitoring, bag checks, metal detectors, limited points of entry and an "overwatch" police unit that monitors the event from a high perch. Still, officials said first responders and event co-ordinators need to balance safety concerns, costs and a welcoming atmosphere for visitors, noting that eventgoers likely do not want to be subjected to extensive screening with X-ray machines and metal detectors.
"Just because it's a family-friendly event doesn't mean that something bad can't happen," Higgins said. Experts praised the Gilroy Police Department's precautionary efforts and quick response, noting that law enforcement there had taken many critical steps.