The GMW Concealed Carry Gun Pack. Now available now on Amazon.com. BUY NOW
The GMW IWB magazine holster with built-in neodymium magnets. Now available now on Amazon.com. BUY NOW
Whether or not to allow first responders to concealed carry is a hotly debated issue these days. Some support the idea, others not so much. Since people who work in EMS are on-call 24/7 there are instances when they need to respond to emergency situations in the wee and lonely hours of the night and early morning, never knowing when someone might attack or threaten them while they respond to an emergency situation. As such, it’s important for anyone who is currently or who is considering becoming an EMS to learn how to concealed carry as an EMS. EMS workers are on the front lines saving lives and should know all strategies for protecting themselves against would-be attackers.
TO CARRY OR NOT TO CARRY?
EMS concealed carry has its supporters as well as its critics. Critics claim that carrying a concealed firearm may lull the EMS personnel into a false sense of security and cause them, due to their firearms, to approach situations differently. Opponents of concealed carrying by EMS workers say that it will cause more problems than it solves. Some critics believe that concealed carrying is something best left to professionals–those who are trained in weapons use and have time to practice shooting on a regular basis.
Arguments Against EMS Concealed Carry
Some of the major points made by critics of EMS Concealed Carrying are compiled in the following list:
Concealed carrying requires training, experience, and practice. Law enforcement officers, active military personnel, and other professionals who carry weapons are trained to do so. Due to the demanding nature of EMS work, these first responders just don’t have time to actively participate in the required continuous training and education required to concealed carry a firearm in dangerous emergency situations.
Whereas police officers are regularly faced with active shooter situations, violence against EMS workers has not reached a level where EMS concealed carrying is necessary. Reports show that violence against EMS workers isn’t rising and, additionally, most attacks on EMS workers were perpetrated by mentally impaired, intoxicated, or disturbed individuals. While EMS providers are at a high risk of being shot or stabbed while performing their duties, it rarely happens.
More lives would be saved by banning the practice of concealed carrying as an EMS. Currently EMS workers operate under a policy whereby they withdraw from violent situations. Withdrawal from a violent situation by a first responder is not an act of cowardice but rather a lifesaving tactic. Bravery, not bravado, is what’s required of an EMS worker. EMS workers are not police officers. It shouldn’t be the job of first responders to face violence head on.
Even first responders themselves are not keen on learning how to concealed carry as an EMS. Some believe that carrying guns is something better left to the police. They believe that since the primary duty of an EMS worker is to save lives, carrying a firearm would conflict with their purpose. Some believe that having EMS workers concealed carrying would go against the sacred philosophy of all healers which is “First, do no harm.”
It is also argued by opponents of concealed carrying by EMS workers that it would negatively affect the public perception of medical first responders. Concealed carry of firearms by EMS workers or firefighters might intimidate and thereby negatively affect patients. Further, it is already tough for EMS personnel to keep up to date with the latest medical science. Further asking EMS workers to keep abreast of concealed carry tactics and practice firearm training might overburden them and negatively impact their core mission of saving lives.
Arguments for EMS Concealed Carry
While there are those who are opposed to EMS concealed carry, there are also those who support the call for allowing all first responders to carry firearms. A volunteer firefighter once explained that an EMS worker’s need to carry during his duties is the same as his need to carry while off the clock. Unfortunate situations which require personal defense can happen at any time, including on fire or EMS calls.
An August 2010 report by the US Department of Labor analyzed data from the years 2003 to 2007 and revealed that about 60% of nonfatal assaults and violent acts in the US workforce appeared in the health care and social assistance industry, and that 75% of those assaults were by health care patients and residents of health care facilities. The study also revealed that health care workers and social assistance employees are 5 times more likely to be the victim of nonfatal assaults or violent acts than the average worker.
In Texas, State Representative John Wray has introduced a bill allowing first responders to concealed carry on duty. Wray believes that fire department and EMS personnel, especially in less urban areas where medical first responders are often at the scene before law enforcement, would be safer this way. Wray’s vision is that all EMS workers should be trained in concealed carry and should hold permits and licenses to that effect.
Several states have already taken steps to beef up first responder protection. Many agencies have now procured tactical ballistic vests and helmets for EMS personnel to carry on their rigs on the off chance that the scene becomes violent. States including Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Colorado, and Florida have already made the move to include ballistic vests in the personal protective equipment of their emergency response units.
Texas is not the only state where legislators are considering laws in relation to concealed carrying as an EMS. In Kansas, House Bill 2502 legalizes concealed carry for on-duty medical first responders and firefighters as of July 1, 2016.
5 THINGS TO KNOW WHEN CONCEALED CARRYING AS AN EMS
At the end of the day, it will still be up to the first responder to decide if he or she will carry a firearm while on duty. If you choose to carry, it’s important that you know the laws governing how to concealed carry as an EMS. Put simply, the more you know the law, the better off you will be. Here are 5 things you need to know when you opt to concealed carry as an EMS:
Scene Safety Still Matters
The first rule for EMS concealed carry is to never let your ability to concealed carry lull you into a false sense of security. Never be complacent just because you or your partner are carrying a concealed weapon. Your duty to properly secure a scene is still a main priority. The old saying “complacency kills” holds just as true today as ever. Complacency has no place when concealed carrying as an EMS.
EMS Is More Visible Than Ever
Regardless of your views on the legality of concealed carry for EMS personnel, one thing is for sure–gone are the days when EMS is sometimes forgotten or excluded when talking about emergency response forces like the police or fire departments. In fact, EMS is now included in 90% of all proposed laws regarding concealed carry legislation and is for the first time in many cases specifically being mentioned in legislation which deals with other first responders such as the police or firefighters. EMS is more visible than ever and that’s a good thing.
Concealed Carry Is a Tool, Not a Guarantee
Consider concealed carrying a tool just like any other–you should only use it when it makes sense to do so. Consider your firearm as no different than a flight crew’s night vision goggles. A jet fighter isn’t wearing those when the sun is shining. You should only ever use your concealed weapon as a tool during extreme situations and after you have carefully considered all available options.
More Training Is Required for an EMS Concealed Carry
Talking about how to concealed carry as an EMS is different than just talking about a permit. To concealed carry you need to be knowledgeable in all aspects of your state’s gun laws. You should also consider your partner in this situation. If you are concealed carrying you should make it known to your partner and vice versa. Even if you choose not to concealed carry it’s important to know what your partner or team is doing. Fulfillment of your duty as a first responder is dependent on your knowledge of all factors in a situation.
Hope Is Not a Plan
Whether you like or not, EMS concealed carry will become legal in your state. Hoping that your EMS or fire station will not be affected isn’t a responsible option. You should have a plan. Concealed carry for EMS concealed carry is legal in some states and will come into law in more states in the near future. Your best option is to start getting ready, start getting knowledgeable, and put yourself in the best place to accept changes to EMS and concealed carry laws.
TIPS FOR EMS CONCEALED CARRY
If EMS concealed carry is inevitable, your next step should be thinking about your local EMS station and how to ensure success in its operations in light of the legalization of EMS concealed carry. Here are some EMS concealed carry tips you should bear in mind when adopting a concealed carry policy as medical first responders.
Check State Concealed Weapons Laws
Different states have different laws when it comes to concealed carry. In some states, employers have the prerogative to prohibit or allow employees to carry firearms while on duty. In other states, the tables are turned and employees are allowed to bring their weapons to the workplace and safely store them in their vehicles.
Check your state’s EMS laws, regulations, and policies to see if they address the issue of how to concealed carry as an EMS on board an ambulance. In Pennsylvania, for example, state regulations prohibit EMS personnel from carrying weapons and weapons are also not allowed on board ambulances.
Evaluate the Merits of Allowing Concealed Carry
After considering laws governing EMS concealed carry, you need to determine for yourself the benefits of allowing EMS personnel to carry concealed weapons on duty. While reports of attacks or assaults on EMS personnel are certainly not rare, deadly force attacks or threats of such attacks are. Certain states do not allow the use of firearms or deadly force by EMS workers. EMS personnel should take note of local and state laws and only carry if they are allowed to do so in their area. An EMS worker carrying a weapon against state law could face harsh consequences and liabilities.
Considering the merits of concealed carrying as an EMS is important for many reasons. For example, consider a scenario in which an attacker is able to obtain the EMS worker’s weapon and use it against him. Due to the demanding nature of their work as medical responders, EMS personnel are not able to always guard and secure their weapons with the same level of caution as police officers. If someone were able to get a hold of an EMS worker’s weapon the consequences could be tragic.
Consider Non-Lethal Alternatives
As public safety providers EMS workers are not trained to use firearms or other defense tools. Any first responder who chooses to concealed carry should be qualified and trained to do so. Gun safety is important for all involved in gun use. When learning how to concealed carry as an EMS, your first goal step is to get trained and to make time to routinely practice the use of your firearm. If you are not yet at this level, it may be smart to consider using a non-lethal weapon for self-defense such as a chemical restraint, taser, baton, or other less dangerous alternative.
Get Adequate Training
Many people believe that carrying a firearm can make them an instant hero, ready to head out and save lives in the street. In reality, however, people who carry firearms are quite unlikely to use their weapon, even those performing EMS duties in a rough neighborhood. For the safety of all involved in an EMS concealed carry, it’s important for you to have solid tactical training in using a firearm. While you may not necessarily need to attend a basic gun safety class or practice down at the shooting range, what is important is that you learn basic skills such as threat assessment and shoot/no-shoot decision making.
Take Responsibility
Time and time again, we have mentioned in this blog that carrying a firearm entails a lot of responsibility. If you choose to proceed with an EMS concealed carry, will you be able to handle the responsibility of your bullets?
In some states concealed carriers are responsible for any damages that occur. If you shoot a gunman and kill or injure a bystander, you could be liable for that. If you aim for a tree and hit someone’s pet, you could be held responsible for whatever damage was caused. If you fire a warning shot into the air and on its way down it somehow tragically injures a child, that’s on you.
Adopting a policy to address how to concealed carry as an EMS is one thing, dealing with unforeseen ramifications is something else altogether. We want to stress one more time that anyone concealed carrying as an EMS worker should be properly trained with handling a firearm and specifically trained to do so while carrying out his or her primary mission as a caregiver. It is important to consider the responsibilities and liabilities that come with an EMS concealed carry.
What are your thoughts about allowing first responders to concealed carry? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok
How to Concealed Carry as an EMS: EMS Concealed Carry Tips
The GMW Concealed Carry Gun Pack. Now available now on Amazon.com.
BUY NOW
BUY NOW
Whether or not to allow first responders to concealed carry is a hotly debated issue these days. Some support the idea, others not so much. Since people who work in EMS are on-call 24/7 there are instances when they need to respond to emergency situations in the wee and lonely hours of the night and early morning, never knowing when someone might attack or threaten them while they respond to an emergency situation. As such, it’s important for anyone who is currently or who is considering becoming an EMS to learn how to concealed carry as an EMS. EMS workers are on the front lines saving lives and should know all strategies for protecting themselves against would-be attackers.
TO CARRY OR NOT TO CARRY?
EMS concealed carry has its supporters as well as its critics. Critics claim that carrying a concealed firearm may lull the EMS personnel into a false sense of security and cause them, due to their firearms, to approach situations differently. Opponents of concealed carrying by EMS workers say that it will cause more problems than it solves. Some critics believe that concealed carrying is something best left to professionals–those who are trained in weapons use and have time to practice shooting on a regular basis.
Arguments Against EMS Concealed Carry
Some of the major points made by critics of EMS Concealed Carrying are compiled in the following list:
Even first responders themselves are not keen on learning how to concealed carry as an EMS. Some believe that carrying guns is something better left to the police. They believe that since the primary duty of an EMS worker is to save lives, carrying a firearm would conflict with their purpose. Some believe that having EMS workers concealed carrying would go against the sacred philosophy of all healers which is “First, do no harm.”
It is also argued by opponents of concealed carrying by EMS workers that it would negatively affect the public perception of medical first responders. Concealed carry of firearms by EMS workers or firefighters might intimidate and thereby negatively affect patients. Further, it is already tough for EMS personnel to keep up to date with the latest medical science. Further asking EMS workers to keep abreast of concealed carry tactics and practice firearm training might overburden them and negatively impact their core mission of saving lives.
Arguments for EMS Concealed Carry
While there are those who are opposed to EMS concealed carry, there are also those who support the call for allowing all first responders to carry firearms. A volunteer firefighter once explained that an EMS worker’s need to carry during his duties is the same as his need to carry while off the clock. Unfortunate situations which require personal defense can happen at any time, including on fire or EMS calls.
An August 2010 report by the US Department of Labor analyzed data from the years 2003 to 2007 and revealed that about 60% of nonfatal assaults and violent acts in the US workforce appeared in the health care and social assistance industry, and that 75% of those assaults were by health care patients and residents of health care facilities. The study also revealed that health care workers and social assistance employees are 5 times more likely to be the victim of nonfatal assaults or violent acts than the average worker.
In Texas, State Representative John Wray has introduced a bill allowing first responders to concealed carry on duty. Wray believes that fire department and EMS personnel, especially in less urban areas where medical first responders are often at the scene before law enforcement, would be safer this way. Wray’s vision is that all EMS workers should be trained in concealed carry and should hold permits and licenses to that effect.
Several states have already taken steps to beef up first responder protection. Many agencies have now procured tactical ballistic vests and helmets for EMS personnel to carry on their rigs on the off chance that the scene becomes violent. States including Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Colorado, and Florida have already made the move to include ballistic vests in the personal protective equipment of their emergency response units.
Texas is not the only state where legislators are considering laws in relation to concealed carrying as an EMS. In Kansas, House Bill 2502 legalizes concealed carry for on-duty medical first responders and firefighters as of July 1, 2016.
5 THINGS TO KNOW WHEN CONCEALED CARRYING AS AN EMS
At the end of the day, it will still be up to the first responder to decide if he or she will carry a firearm while on duty. If you choose to carry, it’s important that you know the laws governing how to concealed carry as an EMS. Put simply, the more you know the law, the better off you will be. Here are 5 things you need to know when you opt to concealed carry as an EMS:
Scene Safety Still Matters
The first rule for EMS concealed carry is to never let your ability to concealed carry lull you into a false sense of security. Never be complacent just because you or your partner are carrying a concealed weapon. Your duty to properly secure a scene is still a main priority. The old saying “complacency kills” holds just as true today as ever. Complacency has no place when concealed carrying as an EMS.
EMS Is More Visible Than Ever
Regardless of your views on the legality of concealed carry for EMS personnel, one thing is for sure–gone are the days when EMS is sometimes forgotten or excluded when talking about emergency response forces like the police or fire departments. In fact, EMS is now included in 90% of all proposed laws regarding concealed carry legislation and is for the first time in many cases specifically being mentioned in legislation which deals with other first responders such as the police or firefighters. EMS is more visible than ever and that’s a good thing.
Concealed Carry Is a Tool, Not a Guarantee
Consider concealed carrying a tool just like any other–you should only use it when it makes sense to do so. Consider your firearm as no different than a flight crew’s night vision goggles. A jet fighter isn’t wearing those when the sun is shining. You should only ever use your concealed weapon as a tool during extreme situations and after you have carefully considered all available options.
More Training Is Required for an EMS Concealed Carry
Talking about how to concealed carry as an EMS is different than just talking about a permit. To concealed carry you need to be knowledgeable in all aspects of your state’s gun laws. You should also consider your partner in this situation. If you are concealed carrying you should make it known to your partner and vice versa. Even if you choose not to concealed carry it’s important to know what your partner or team is doing. Fulfillment of your duty as a first responder is dependent on your knowledge of all factors in a situation.
Hope Is Not a Plan
Whether you like or not, EMS concealed carry will become legal in your state. Hoping that your EMS or fire station will not be affected isn’t a responsible option. You should have a plan. Concealed carry for EMS concealed carry is legal in some states and will come into law in more states in the near future. Your best option is to start getting ready, start getting knowledgeable, and put yourself in the best place to accept changes to EMS and concealed carry laws.
TIPS FOR EMS CONCEALED CARRY
If EMS concealed carry is inevitable, your next step should be thinking about your local EMS station and how to ensure success in its operations in light of the legalization of EMS concealed carry. Here are some EMS concealed carry tips you should bear in mind when adopting a concealed carry policy as medical first responders.
Check State Concealed Weapons Laws
Different states have different laws when it comes to concealed carry. In some states, employers have the prerogative to prohibit or allow employees to carry firearms while on duty. In other states, the tables are turned and employees are allowed to bring their weapons to the workplace and safely store them in their vehicles.
Check your state’s EMS laws, regulations, and policies to see if they address the issue of how to concealed carry as an EMS on board an ambulance. In Pennsylvania, for example, state regulations prohibit EMS personnel from carrying weapons and weapons are also not allowed on board ambulances.
Evaluate the Merits of Allowing Concealed Carry
After considering laws governing EMS concealed carry, you need to determine for yourself the benefits of allowing EMS personnel to carry concealed weapons on duty. While reports of attacks or assaults on EMS personnel are certainly not rare, deadly force attacks or threats of such attacks are. Certain states do not allow the use of firearms or deadly force by EMS workers. EMS personnel should take note of local and state laws and only carry if they are allowed to do so in their area. An EMS worker carrying a weapon against state law could face harsh consequences and liabilities.
Considering the merits of concealed carrying as an EMS is important for many reasons. For example, consider a scenario in which an attacker is able to obtain the EMS worker’s weapon and use it against him. Due to the demanding nature of their work as medical responders, EMS personnel are not able to always guard and secure their weapons with the same level of caution as police officers. If someone were able to get a hold of an EMS worker’s weapon the consequences could be tragic.
Consider Non-Lethal Alternatives
As public safety providers EMS workers are not trained to use firearms or other defense tools. Any first responder who chooses to concealed carry should be qualified and trained to do so. Gun safety is important for all involved in gun use. When learning how to concealed carry as an EMS, your first goal step is to get trained and to make time to routinely practice the use of your firearm. If you are not yet at this level, it may be smart to consider using a non-lethal weapon for self-defense such as a chemical restraint, taser, baton, or other less dangerous alternative.
Get Adequate Training
Many people believe that carrying a firearm can make them an instant hero, ready to head out and save lives in the street. In reality, however, people who carry firearms are quite unlikely to use their weapon, even those performing EMS duties in a rough neighborhood. For the safety of all involved in an EMS concealed carry, it’s important for you to have solid tactical training in using a firearm. While you may not necessarily need to attend a basic gun safety class or practice down at the shooting range, what is important is that you learn basic skills such as threat assessment and shoot/no-shoot decision making.
Take Responsibility
Time and time again, we have mentioned in this blog that carrying a firearm entails a lot of responsibility. If you choose to proceed with an EMS concealed carry, will you be able to handle the responsibility of your bullets?
In some states concealed carriers are responsible for any damages that occur. If you shoot a gunman and kill or injure a bystander, you could be liable for that. If you aim for a tree and hit someone’s pet, you could be held responsible for whatever damage was caused. If you fire a warning shot into the air and on its way down it somehow tragically injures a child, that’s on you.
Adopting a policy to address how to concealed carry as an EMS is one thing, dealing with unforeseen ramifications is something else altogether. We want to stress one more time that anyone concealed carrying as an EMS worker should be properly trained with handling a firearm and specifically trained to do so while carrying out his or her primary mission as a caregiver. It is important to consider the responsibilities and liabilities that come with an EMS concealed carry.
What are your thoughts about allowing first responders to concealed carry? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.