Following a tremendous effort by a group of engineers and business people, Tuna Point Lighthouse Inc. (TPLI) has developed a plan to utilize the existing US Coast Guard system of lighthouses to act as a coastline protection system for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  By utilizing these existing structures, the time and cost of construction of said system will be kept to a minimum.  Additionally, these historic structures will receive much-needed repairs.  ”There are 504 of these lighthouse type structures left in the 50 states and Puerto Rico,” said TPLI’s president George Van Parys.  Lighthouse placement was based on the need to warn ships off the coast, points, and inlets.  Now these same lights can be used as a means to protect the coast.  ”If each one is outfitted with the TPLI proposed electronics camera package,” says Van Parys, ”that will give the Department of Homeland Security a protected area of at least 12,096 linier miles or 114,000 square miles, day and night.”  ”We are keeping many of the exact details confidential, for obvious reasons, but people can read the basic details at: www.tunapointlig hthouse.homestead.com/ PLANS.html,” states Van Parys.  ”There, people can read about how the concept came about and the equipment that will be used.  They can even use a live demo with a simulation of the standard view camera systems.”  The unique concept of the TPLI system goes beyond the use of lighthouses and advanced electronics to protect the coastline.  It involves having the average American citizen donate money to pay for the entire project.  In the spirit of John F. Kennedy asking, ”What can you do for your country,” it puts the construction of a coastline security system in the hands of the American people.  This is a concept unheard of in today’s world of terrorism.