Cord Byrd: “Mr. Fanning was talking about the people at the ground level, the people at ground zero, the people who are the first to…”

“Mr. Fanning was talking about the people at the ground level, the people at ground zero, the people who are the first to arrive when the alarm bells ring. Fanning said: If lives are to be saved and suffering reduced, it will be up to them to do it. Meaning the first responders, the first responder team. At an incident, whatever the scale, firefighters and other responders will be there within minutes, some quite possibly becoming victims themselves. Those were the words of Mr. Fanning. His testimony concluded with the following: They [the first responders] will do what they have always done, act to protect the public they serve. Knowing this, let us provide them with the tools they need to perform their duties safely and effectively.”