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I do think that Security should be armed, I am commissioned by the State of Texas, while on duty but I wish they would require more training hours for it. I have seen way to many people when I qualify that scare the crap out of me and make me glad I don't work with them! Worst part about Texas Commissioned Security Officers is that we only re-qualify once every 2 years and it's not mandatory to shoot in between then.

I'm with CHIEF. I used to be a security officer and I told both companies that I worked for that I would NOT work any unarmed posts. There is no way in Hades I would work an unarmed post.

I do both. I am a Armed Security Guard and I also work as a Police Officer. I've seen SO MANY guards that are taking the class and they didn't need to. Now I will say there are a lot of Officers who are very good and I have no problem with them carrying. I feel that the qualifications need to be stricter with moving exercises and some high stress problem's. also there needs to be some type of manditory training every year like Police Officers. My company makes us shoot every 6 mo's and my Police gig makes us shoot once a year per TCLOSE. Where I'm a cop we do moving drills and high stress shooting. My Security gig is a simple stand and shoot. I defently feel there are some people who are ex-Police and ex-Military who don't need to own guns. The reasons are very different just as the people. I will say there are some posts i work i dont' care if i carry or not. however we have some that I wouldn't work without mulitpul weapons.

Simple way to do it is like we do in WI. We have to take the same firearms course as the Police Academy, minimum 40 hours, usually 50-60. Semi-annual re-qualifications are mandatory in a lot of the more respected security agencies here. There are some security officers I've seen and worked with in the past who really have no business even looking at a gun of any kind (including nerf guns and water pistols), but they usually get weeded out or denied by the agency. Its a very selective process. Having worked some very dangerous accounts while I was still contract security, I have to say exactly what Chief said. I won't work it if I'm not armed.

May I add to your question? How do you all feel about campus security being un-armed (on campuses without campus police)? I personally think its foolish, especially these days.

I've done police work and I've done security work both armed and unarmed..... while I PREFER armed, there are many instances where a firearm isn't exactly a good idea considering how many security people get hired on the basis of passing the mirror test....you can fog a mirror? good. You're a warm body I can put on a post....

Heck I've worked with a couple of POLICE officers that could barely hit the broad side of a barn (from inside the barn). It's all about TRAINING..... and not just accuracy but judgemental shooting.... as in SHOULD I fire, not can I hit the target?

i think security officers should be armed. i worked in law enforcement 2 and half years before i crossed over and started doing armed security and executive protection. i agree that if you are gonna be an armed security officer you make it a priority to shoot in between your requalifying. doesnt help to keep up those shooting skills and if possible try and get some combat shooting in it helps. i have a buddy of mine who is a swat officer and i have learned a lot about the different weapons i carry and how to shoot them. arming security officers is not bad, its just up to the offficer and the company to stay on top of keeping the officer trained for situations that he might encounter on the job.

security work can be just as dangerous as police work so yes im going to carry and i believe security should be armed becuase you are more protected and it makes you more of a deterent to someone who wants to commit a crime i mean the training could be better, but my favorite saying is if they got one i got one 2

ExcalCPT said:

TRAINING TRAINING TRAINING The problems facing the security field today and the perception of security "Guards" versus "Officers" is rooted in lack of training. This can be dropped right in the lap of legislation and the "Cut throat" attitude of company owners. It is cheaper and easier to put a warm body on a site and hope for the best than to train an individual to be competent and professional and weed out the "Securitards". My personal opinion is that ALL officers working in the Law enforcement field should be armed, however, until the training is mandated and enforced there are too many incompetents to allow this. For now, I would have to say that each case be handled on an individual basis and if the site warrants it and the officer shows competence than allow him/her to be armed. Bottom line is that each state needs to legislate a more substantial minimum training level otherwise companies are going to offer the least amount of training they can to save money.

On a side note, I hope I don't kill this thread as it appears I have done to some others. :-)

Yes some security should be armed! They should definatly require more training! And they should require cat scans and Psych evals prior to licensing! Mall ninja is a perfect poster boy!!!! I would feel better knowing he is not packin! That mall ninja is the kind of type that will bet his co-worker he can get a higher body count!!!!

ok i'm armed all the time becuse i'm not ur run of the mill rent a cop that stands around with no one around all night. and in california its harder to carri a gun as a security officer then it is to get ur ccw. and just 2 weeks ago i had a 17 year old gang banger (red) pull a gun on me thinking i dont have one, when i pulled my gun he drop hes  and started yell dont shot me i dont know u had one, what would u have done? yes some should carrie and some should not

jonboy304 says ...

ok i'm armed all the time becuse i'm not ur run of the mill rent a cop that stands around with no one around all night. and in california its harder to carri a gun as a security officer then it is to get ur ccw. and just 2 weeks ago i had a 17 year old gang banger (red) pull a gun on me thinking i dont have one, when i pulled my gun he drop hes  and started yell dont shot me i dont know u had one, what would u have done? yes some should carrie and some should not

I think it goes the same as any citizen down the street:

If you aren't educated and trained, then one shouldn't have access to a gun. A citizen that has his home broken into and has a gun and can't shoot is asking to be shot.......

In MD where I attended college, the Public Safety Office was staffed by MD State Troopers.

In FL where I took classes, the security was intended for just that and NOT being armed: eyes and ears for activity and securing the property.

In FL, down the road, there were Public Safety Officers that secure the facility and a College Police Force for law enforcement.

In some instances, security is trained for armed activities and I agree that they are prepared for correct armed functions. No one else should be in a position to use a firearms and possibly create problems for LE. It's serious business. I for one haven't been trained for armed security and as such do not do so.

jonboy304 says ...

ok i'm armed all the time becuse i'm not ur run of the mill rent a cop that stands around with no one around all night. and in california its harder to carri a gun as a security officer then it is to get ur ccw. and just 2 weeks ago i had a 17 year old gang banger (red) pull a gun on me thinking i dont have one, when i pulled my gun he drop hes  and started yell dont shot me i dont know u had one, what would u have done? yes some should carrie and some should not

What is a (red) gang banger? and do they fall under "folk" or "people" nation?

I've done security work, both armed and unarmed. I don't have a real problem with a security guard being armed as long as they pass a background check, psychological evaluation, and complete a firearms instruction course comparible to one that is taught in that particular state's law enforcement academies. That being said, I agree with a previous poster that said that places use the "mirror test" to hire employees. I will also add, that in my time of working as a police officer, I have also worked with some officers that shouldn't have been allowed to carry as well. It comes down to selection and training.

hospitalcop says ...

ODIN says ...

jonboy304 says ...

ok i'm armed all the time becuse i'm not ur run of the mill rent a cop that stands around with no one around all night. and in california its harder to carri a gun as a security officer then it is to get ur ccw. and just 2 weeks ago i had a 17 year old gang banger (red) pull a gun on me thinking i dont have one, when i pulled my gun he drop hes  and started yell dont shot me i dont know u had one, what would u have done? yes some should carrie and some should not

What is a (red) gang banger? and do they fall under "folk" or "people" nation?

ODIN,

Folk/People gangs are more mid-west and points further eastward... in Jonboy's area it's more likely the Bloods/Crips thing... (provided my limited "gang" training memory is correct....

As far as I have learned all gangs fall under either folk or people, thanks for the schooling though, and the question was for jonboy just to see if he had any real knowledge of gangs.

• Originated in South California to defend against the Crips


• Generally align with People Nation sets


• Identifiers/symbols:
  
  
  
  • the color red
  
  
  • red bandannas or rags
  
  
  • the word "Piru" (the original Blood gang)
  
  
  • crossed out "C" in words as disrespect for Crips
  
  
  • other disrespectful anti-Crip graffiti
  
  
  
  

• Originated in Los Angeles in the late 60s, Crips


• Migrated throughout the United States


• Generally align with Folk Nation sets


• Extremely violent


• Multiracial


• Identifiers/symbols:
  
  
  
  • the color blue
  
  
  • blue bandannas and rags
  
  
  • use the letter "c" in place of "b" in writing in disrespect for Bloods
  
  
  • calling each other "Cuzz"
  
  
  • calling themselves "Blood Killas" (BK)
  
  
  • wearing British Knight (BK) tennis shoes