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A friend called me a few minutes ago telling me that his cousin just got hired to be a security guard for a private company. His job requires him to carry a handgun on him. He's only 20 years old, so he's not allowed to purchase a handgun. My friend ask me if it's legal for his cousin to carry on the job, even if he's under 21. What's the law on this?

NguyenVanDon wrote:A friend called me a few minutes ago telling me that his cousin just got hired to be a security guard for a private company. His job requires him to carry a handgun on him. He's only 20 years old, so he's not allowed to purchase a handgun. My friend ask me if it's legal for his cousin to carry on the job, even if he's under 21. What's the law on this?

State laws allows commissioning as a armed guard at 18. However, he cannot carry a handgun on duty unless he has been through a 30 hour school AND has a valid commission card in his possession. If his company asks him to do differently he should refuse.

BTW, he can purchase a handgun, just not from a Federally Licensed Dealer.

TXI - Can you briefly explain the difference between a commissioned and non-commissioned guard? Does this make a difference in the answer to VanDon's question?
Thanks.

WildBill wrote:TXI - Can you briefly explain the difference between a commissioned and non-commissioned guard? Does this make a difference in the answer to VanDon's question?
Thanks.

commissioned = armed guared
non-commissioned = unarmed guard

2 different versions of a state security license.

Glock 23 - That's what I thought. Thanks!

It seems like the security company would ask VanDon's friend's cousin if he was commissioned before they offered him a job that required him to be armed.

txinvestigator wrote:

NguyenVanDon wrote:A friend called me a few minutes ago telling me that his cousin just got hired to be a security guard for a private company. His job requires him to carry a handgun on him. He's only 20 years old, so he's not allowed to purchase a handgun. My friend ask me if it's legal for his cousin to carry on the job, even if he's under 21. What's the law on this?

State laws allows commissioning as a armed guard at 18. However, he cannot carry a handgun on duty unless he has been through a 30 hour school AND has a valid commission card in his possession. If his company asks him to do differently he should refuse.

BTW, he can purchase a handgun, just not from a Federally Licensed Dealer.

Thanks TXI! Will pass this info over to my friend's cousin.

A non-commissioned guard cannot carry a firearm on duty. About 4 hours of training is required, and can be done on the internet.

A commissioned guard CAN carry a firearm, either a pistol, revolver or shotgun, if he is qualified for it and has the "endorsement" on his commission card. 30 hours of training is required.

You would be surprised at the companies who ask employees to carry before getting the card.

a little trivia; In Private Security, companies are licensed, employees are registered, commissioned or authorized. This is clear is the Occupations Code and Administrative Code; however, the card the state sends to employees calls itself a 'license".


This field is regulated by the Private Security Bureau of the Texas Department of Public Safety, who also regulates Private Investigators, Armored Car Guards, Security Couriers, Burglar Alarm sales, installation and monitoring people, locksmiths, access control companies, guard dog companies, security consultants.....camera and closed circuit monitoring, I think that's it.

That "Bureau" is a real mouth full. I liked it much better when CHL was "Unit".