Armed, or unarmed?

[N. A. Corbier]

IMO the best scenario is for a bank guard to be armed and in business attire.
Have a desk and totally blend in with the other employees. The element of surprise would belong to the guard.

A Securitis guard relayed a story when he was guarding a bank and his post was outside the front door unarmed.
One day the bank was robbed and the perp walked right past him and got away. I see no sense in this unless the bank got some sort of insurance break by having a guard present.

There you go. Most of your clients get an insurance reduction by having the guard present, AND, if it can be argued that it was the guard's fault, the guard company's insurance company picks up the tab, whatever the liability-incurring event was.

[N. A. Corbier]

I most states it is illegal for private security to carry or possess a TASER or electric weapon. Police only.

Um, that is blatantly false, and wrong.

States where all stun devices including TASER are illegal:
# Hawaii
# Illinois
# Massachusetts
# Michigan
# New Jersey
# New York
# Rhode Island
# Wisconsin


Cities where all stun devices including TASER are illegal:
# Annapolis, MD
# Baltimore, MD
# Baltimore County, MD
# Dennison / Crawford County, IA (*According to Sheriff Tom Hogan*)
# District Of Columbia
# Philadelphia, PA

As you can see, they are only illegal for citizen carry in 8 states, and a few cities in America. As far as "I said security, not private citizens," security officers are private citizens with no more or no less authority than other private citizens, unless they are sworn officers, who then could carry a peace officers in states where TASER is illegal.

The statement "I most states it is illegal for private security to carry or possess a TASER or electric weapon. Police only." is blatantly false. Taser just came out with the C2 personal defense weapon and showed it CES, not some tacticool expo, but the same place they showed the latest toasters.

No law-enforcement only weapon comes in electric pink.

[Chucky]

IMO the best scenario is for a bank guard to be armed and in business attire.
Have a desk and totally blend in with the other employees. The element of surprise would belong to the guard.

A Securitis guard relayed a story when he was guarding a bank and his post was outside the front door unarmed.
One day the bank was robbed and the perp walked right past him and got away. I see no sense in this unless the bank got some sort of insurance break by having a guard present.

[Rooney]

30+ year experience & I like Dave M have never really had a desire to be armed. Probably because in Canada I can not be so it doesn't make scense dreaming about it if it isn't going to happen.

And I don't like the comments that unarmed Officers are useless. I do a lot of work! Again, I see security different than a lot of you. I was always told that the old punch clock patrols were for fire watch. Fire prevention, accident prevention, first aid & enforcing hotel rules do not require firearms.

I see something these days that I do think is useless security. During the past few years the guards working in banks have had there weapons taken away. An unarmed bank guard seems useless to me.

I have noticed that as well here. I think the reason they are taking the guns away from the bank security is for liability reasons. Some of the bank guards here are retired people just working part time. I would not want someone that is 70 years old shaking trying to shoot a robber in a crowded bank.

[HotelSecurity]

30+ year experience & I like Dave M have never really had a desire to be armed. Probably because in Canada I can not be so it doesn't make scense dreaming about it if it isn't going to happen.

And I don't like the comments that unarmed Officers are useless. I do a lot of work! Again, I see security different than a lot of you. I was always told that the old punch clock patrols were for fire watch. Fire prevention, accident prevention, first aid & enforcing hotel rules do not require firearms.

I see something these days that I do think is useless security. During the past few years the guards working in banks have had there weapons taken away. An unarmed bank guard seems useless to me.

[Chucky]

I most states it is illegal for private security to carry or possess a TASER or electric weapon. Police only.

That is a legal oxymoron. My state won't allow a non lethal taser yet I carry 10 rounds of hollow point 40 cal in the mag. I swear the funeral directors union is behind this law.

As for Dave Ms comment that he has never desired to carry. Comon Dave you know that you would just love to empty a mag or two into some low life scum that buttered your toast on the wrong side. The smell of gun powder and the smoke just seems to make a day seem sooo much better. Maybe even the next person that tells you to have a nice day. Smoke em.

[Special Investigator]

I think tasers are the best answer for most security positions.

I most states it is illegal for private security to carry or possess a TASER or electric weapon. Police only.

[N. A. Corbier]

With the Mexican Army engaging CBP agents in stand-offs, I would consider where you are going a deployment, and have appropriate force protection assets at all times.

I'm glad you do too.

[Rooney]

Glad you weren't picked off by a sniper before the mule crossed. Be careful out there, you're dealing with more than just the runners, you got the damn Mexican Army to worry about too.

I've seen them come across a couple times as well. When I'm down there I like to keep my head low and on a swivel. I was staying low when that person came upon me. (I seen him coming across) Thats why I think he retreated. He didn't see me until he was about 10 yards away. Not enough time for him to bring his rifle up without me emptying my first clip. I now have agents with me or special security (x-military friend with VERY special training).

[N. A. Corbier]

Glad you weren't picked off by a sniper before the mule crossed. Be careful out there, you're dealing with more than just the runners, you got the damn Mexican Army to worry about too.

[Rooney]

My position does not require me to be armed. But, I do spend allot of time on the U.S. mexico border in my work. Then I carry concealed (licensed) Sig p220 45. I have not had to use it but did have to draw once. A person came across the border with drugs on his back (big blocks wrapped in plastic wrap) and a rifle slung to his shoulder. The person retreated back across the border after coming up on me and seeing my weapon. Border patrol apprehended him about 1/2 mile down the border trying to cross again.

[Marchetti, David, M]

Unarmed for 22 years, never needed a weapon, never had the desire to shoot anyone, my brain, experience, and dedication is my weapon. I guess by some people's standards on the boards I have done some crazy **** over the years :O) and I have only had to use actual physical force on maybe 4 occasions to effect an arrest, twice to stop someone from assaulting another person, and once defending myself. Less legal liability and problems I think but that's a matter of choice I guess. If I were to carry with a blue card it would be a .45 or a .380... special ammo low powder hollow point or black talon round. In a car Mossberg Pump 12 GA, shortie barrel, attached mag light with 00 buck as ammo.

I would not object to carry a tasor, however the state legislation has not even addressed the issue for security officers.

[Chucky]

I think tasers are the best answer for most security positions. You will in most cases not kill the perp yet again in most cases he will do as told or you can send another 50K down the wire. And your court appearance if sued for shocking me cause all I wanted to do was steal from your employer and maybe hurt you badly in the process won't hold that much water with the judge. Whereas turning the bad guy into Swiss Cheese could ruin your summer vacation plans.

[Arff312]

Well i have now changed my security job. I work armed with OC, Asp, Glock 19 and the rest. Starting the end of the month i will be workign at a different company that issues tasers to the officers too.

[CorpSec]

Just spray, no cuffs. We used to carry both, but liability concerns drove the decision to get rid of the cuffs.

I worked for years with cuffs, OC, and an ASP but have never worked armed. Around here, most places that have armed security are real cess pools and they don't pay that well. If they wanted to pay me considerably more than I am making now, I would definitely consider it, but that just isn't going to happen.