Security guards can now pack heat in public

[Lucky45]

05:46 PM CDT on Tuesday, September 4, 2007

By Jason Whitely / 11 News KHOU

A new Texas law that went into effect over the weekend allows private security officers to carry guns in public.
What officers are saying about the law The law is designed to deter crime.
Used to be that private security officers like Lt. Robert Marquez, who work for Blue Moon Investigations, had to leave their firearms in their car unless they were on the job. That’s not the case anymore. The question now is training. How much, if any, do private security officers get with guns? Research shows that the state orders them to take one week of classes when they begin. The security officers must then take mandatory refresher courses, similar to law enforcement, every two years.

“Imagine having 4,000 armed security officers that the public is not used to seeing. Because before they had to go straight to work and straight back. Now, you’re taking 4,000 plus security officers and you’re putting them in public places. That’s the size of the Houston Police Department,� said Jeff Moore with Blue Moon Investigations.

The state’s 4,000 armed security officers, including 60 like Marquez at Blue Moon Investigations, are part of this new presence designed to protect the public and themselves when police aren’t around.

My question is do you think that they will be any confusion by "some" of who the real police is????

Also, do you think that you now have to start watching out for police impersonators???

Also the law states that they have to be wearing a distinctive uniform and the weapon in plain view.

[nitrogen]

Assuming these are trained security guards that have gone through extensive training, I wouldn't worry. They get more training than CHL's get, so I wouldn't worry.

I am somewhat annoyed that they can open carry when I cannot, but that's an argument I think i'm on the minority end of with most of you folks

[Kalrog]

You already have to watch out for police impersonators - they happen and it is reported in the news about once a month with someone being arrested after they tried to shake down the wrong person (usually an off duty cop). This means that they are out there a lot more often than you hear about. No, I don't think this changes anything WRT that - it just allows more good guys to go legally armed.

[Lucky45]

Hey Kalrog,
I just meant to the fact that before they were easy to spot because they didn't have a firearm and usually a flashlight or baton. Now you have to check the patches on the shoulder more often now.

[Dougmyers5]

I don't know about you but I can generally tell a LEO from a Security Guard.
If a Guard tries to impersonate a LEO he will get busted you can bet on that.
I suspect most Guards are as honest as most CHL people or maybe even more.

[stevie_d_64]

And to think they have badges too!

uh ohhh...

[BrassMonkey]

The only difference now is that they have to run around in uniform in ordwer to open carry? If they wanna go grocery shoppping in their uniform, mor epower to them. You just know the security companies are gonna forbid it. TOo much liability for them, was he working, was he not working... blah blah blah...

[Lucky45]

You just know the security companies are gonna forbid it. TOo much liability for them, was he working, was he not working... blah blah blah...

You know that makes sense now that you say that. SO they might have their chains yanked by their own company. But I think that would be after work activity. During work hours they can hop in and out of vehicle with it.

[Lucky45]

I suspect most Guards are as honest as most CHL people or maybe even more.

Man, Reading does a body good. Look what I found that became effective on Sept 1st.

HB 1241 requires any private security business to maintain criminal histories of its security personnel on file at the business and to make them available for inspection by DPS.

It didn't say anything about moving violations.

[retrieverman]

Mall ninjas packing heat outside the mall, now that is a scary thought.

[KD5NRH]

My question is do you think that they will be any confusion by "some" of who the real police is????

I doubt it will be much of an issue anyway; at least some major security companies require the guard to keep the gun in a lockbox until he arrives on the client's site. Others may start instituting similar policies now.

[Mark G26]

The only difference now is that they have to run around in uniform in ordwer to open carry? If they wanna go grocery shoppping in their uniform, mor epower to them. You just know the security companies are gonna forbid it. TOo much liability for them, was he working, was he not working... blah blah blah...

Your right on BrassMonkey..... Insurance companies will not accept that risk and if they do, the premium would be so high the security company would not want to pay it. Just makes sense to make the policy just as it has been.

[casingpoint]

"The state’s 4,000 armed security officers, including 60 like Marquez at Blue Moon Investigations, are part of this new presence designed to protect the public and themselves when police aren’t around"

Just who is the "designer" of this questionable policy? If Texas perceives the need for additional visible deterrent by putting more guns on the street, the legislature should have enacted open carry.

[nitrogen]

IF this works decently, maybe we can use that argument in '09 to get open carry...

[phddan]

This sounds like we, the commoners, are one step closer to open carry in Texas.

I like it.

Dan