Currently it is illegal for emergency responders other than law enforcement to carry firearms, but the bill would change that for "emergency medical services providers, firefighters, or other first responders who are engaged in examining, treating or directing persons during an emergency and who are authorized to carry a concealed weapon..."The wording in the bill is found at scstatehouse.com:
The bill, sponsored in part by Rep. Steven Long of Boiling Springs, said it is another way for first responders to stay safe on calls.
The amendment requires that firefighters and emergency workers who carry go through rigorous training before doing so.
(17) emergency medical services providers, firefighters, or other first responders who are engaged in examining, treating, or directing persons during an emergency and who are authorized to carry a concealed weapon pursuant to Article 4, Chapter 31, Title 23, or who have completed the same training as law enforcement officers in this State."Kansas enacted a law in 2016, that allows all state workers to carry on the job.
From fox4kc.com:
Public employees in Kansas can now carry concealed guns "on the job". Knasas lawmakers recently passed the bill, which means anyone working for the state, such as paramedics and firefighters, can carry a gun.These legislative moves are reflective of the cultural shift back to the understanding that self defense is a right. The understanding that weapons empower individuals. The understanding that ordinary people can and do use weapons responsibly.
Some public employees asked lawmakers for the right to carry a concealed weapon because of the dangerous and violent situations they experience on the job, and lawmakers listened.
The new gun law means firefighters, paramedics or anyone working for the state can now carry a concealed weapon.
©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
Gun Watch
The Elites get to carry a gun while The Plebes can't? Today, it's PD, EMS, and FD. Tomorrow, meter-maids will be packing UZI's.
ReplyDeleteEVERYONE has a Right to protect themselves, and this type of unequal treatment under color of law will NOT endear taxpayers to the 'plight' of First Responders.
BADGES DO *NOT* GRANT EXTRA RIGHTS!
I would rather suffer my home/property burning down, or dying of a heart attack, rather than call anyone who thinks they are superior to me!
Firemen and paramedics should be allowed to carry, but there needs to be an intelligent study of the best weapons they should carry, and how best to carry those weapons, while on duty. In the case of firemen, every part of their uniform is examined for its function, weight and use, as well as its maintenance and quality, individually and with everything else.
ReplyDeleteParamedics are often under pressure for every square inch of space for equipment, supplies, range of motion while transporting, and who knows what all else.
Both have to deal with stressed, hysterical, violent and incapacitated people. So a lot of planning will have to go into arming themselves.
I have worked with a lot of first responders that I personally would not trust with a fire cracker.
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