Suppose people show up with backpacks—and we see this all the time—with gas masks, handkerchiefs, and different items. They are people who are known to us. They infiltrate a crowd and hide in it. As soon as they are masking up, or if we search their backpacks, we can have a much stronger response if we have a law that's specific to that, rather than our going to a riot or going to an unlawful assembly.... We're looking for tools that help us prevent and mitigate before that line is cut.
On May 3rd, 2012. See this statement in context.