More Guns, No Tasers For Private Security Guards

COLORADO SPRINGS – Police officers have a number of weapons at their disposal, but just how many should a private security guard have? On Tuesday, the Colorado Springs City Council will vote on a new proposal with specific weapons, training and uniform restrictions.

Private security guards would be allowed two types of handguns, but only one less-lethal weapon, a 3-ounce or less canister of pepper spray.

“I do not understand the reasoning behind that,” says Jack Krohn, owner of Security Solutions. “You’re taking away a non-lethal alternative and only left with a lethal alternative. If you’re left with only a lethal alternative, you’re going to end up killing somebody, for what, a fight?”

“Anybody, whether it’s a private citizen, police officer or yes, even the security guard, should have a range of options that don’t mean that they automatically have to go to deadly physical force,” says Paul Paradis, owner of Paradise Sales Firearms.

Guards would be allowed certain semi-automatic pistols and revolvers. The semi-automatic would have to be a nine-millimeter or .40-caliber. The revolver would have to be certain .38-calbers or .357-caliber, but with a restriction of a barrel length of four-inches to six inches.

“You can’t just reach into a hat and pull out some numbers and go ‘gee this is what I’m going to allow people to have.’ That’s utter stupidity,” says Paradis.

Those restrictions could pose a safety risk to you.

“They need a gun that fits them correctly for them to be safe and accurate with it,” says Paul Paradis, owner of Paradise Sales Firearms. “I could be shooting at you at a very short distance but send the bullet for a mile, mile and a half, two miles in some other direction. If that force is not directed correctly, then that means innocent people are in danger.”

If your finger can barely reach the trigger of a handgun, you can pull your shot to the right of where you’re aiming. If you can reach the trigger with too much of your finger, you can push the shot to far to the left.

“They can’t be as safe, they can’t be as accurate and that means the general public is in danger,” says Paradis. “Whatever they feel most comfortable with, whatever they can handle most safely, whatever they can be most accurate with, I think that would be the most appropriate piece of machinery for them.”

Another part of the private security guard ordinance deals with training. It doesn’t give many specifics other than requiring the person to pass a firearms safety course with a score of at least 75-percent.

“Not having any minimum number of hours is not a good way to go,” says Paradis.

The ordinance doesn’t require a certain amount of hours in the classroom or on the shooting range. Paradis teaches his own safety course that lasts 26 hours over three days.

“You can’t say ‘x’ number of hours will put a person into a position that they can act responsibly or safely,” says Paradis.

The uniform restrictions in the proposal restrict private security guards from using red and blue lights on their cars. They also can’t use the word “police” or any variation of “K-9.”