EMS Carry or Not Carry?

[elwoodward]

As the title says. Should EMS be allowed to carry?

 

[shibumiseeker]

*Allowed*?

We had a thread on this a while back and I was frankly shocked at the number of folks who thought it was perfectly ok for an emergency services worker to be required to be unarmed.

I carried when I worked as an EMT and I'll be damned if any job is worth my life.

 

[iamaclone45]

Pretty sure his has been debated here before.

I work full time on a rather busy EMS service. I am completely torn on the issue. I can see the positives and negatives with EMS carry.

I wouldn't trust some I've worked with, with a pair of scissors let alone a firearm. I do carry a fixed blade boot knife on me for self defense if it ever came down to it, which hopefully it does not.

Here is the debate from last year.

https://www.indianagunowners.com/forums/carry_issues_and_self_defense/155165-should_ems_carry.html

 

[lrahm]

I know several that wear ballistic vests.

 

[jeremy]

I think everyone should have the ability to carry if they so choose....

 

[elwoodward]

Pretty sure his has been debated here before.

I work full time on a rather busy EMS service. I am completely torn on the issue. I can see the positives and negatives with EMS carry.

I wouldn't trust some I've worked with, with a pair of scissors let alone a firearm. I do carry a fixed blade boot knife on me for self defense if it ever came down to it, which hopefully it does not.

Here is the debate from last year.

https://www.indianagunowners.com/forums/carry_issues_and_self_defense/155165-should_ems_carry.html

Thanks for the link i searched EMS carry but didn't see the thread. I agree that some people shouldn't carry. But in a rural county where there is only a few deputies on duty at night. been many times that EMS has been sent somewhere and have to wait 20+ minutes for a officer if an officer is even sent. I for one would feel better if i was allowed to carry while on duty.

 

[Buckshot]

I say personal choice.... But I have worked with a few people that I would not trust with shoe strings...

 

[Fargo]

I wouldn't consider doing it if I couldn't carry. A good friend who works for Wishard has told me stories about hearing the shots around the corner and then immediately getting dispatched to go pick the perforated guy up...

Best,

Joe

 

[bluewraith]

I support EMS carry. Always have, always will.

 

[cwillour]

Vests should be issued, firearms optional (IMO)

That being said, I would not be surprised to see a qualification requirement adopted (which may offend some) in a number of areas and I am not certain I would be happy w/ that for their sake.

 

[bluewraith]

I say personal choice.... But I have worked with a few people that I would not trust with shoe strings...

Why do you think most of us wear zipper boots?

 

[stephen87]

Just curious, I have heard an answer but it was from someone who is anti-2a, is it against the law for an EMT to carry? I'm starting classes for my EMT-B soon and would prefer to carry as long as it is not illegal. Obviously if it is, it would be deep concealment.

 

[Bill of Rights]

We come back to another issue with this.

Scenario: You deep conceal carry while on shift. You get dispatched to the jail and have to go through a metal detector to enter. Merely bringing the gun onto jail property, IIRC, constitutes "trafficking with an inmate" if you're not a LEO.
Scenario: You get dispatched to the local high school for a sports injury. While you're there, a fight breaks out and no police are yet there. If you draw, you expose yourself as having committed a felony. If you don't, there is a possibility of injury (Not a sure thing; the fight may simply happen near you, but getting to a deep-conceal is going to be difficult while staying squatted down to deal with your patient and not be noticed, and for that matter, your responsibility is to and your priority needs to be that patient, not to deal with the fight. (yes, I know, nothing more useless than a dead paramedic, but you're not going to be able to help anyone at all from a jail cell, either.)

Tough call.

I'd support a change in the law that exempted EMS from laws like that.... aw, hell, who am I kidding? I'd support a repeal of the whole d**n thing.

As an aside, medics out there... you will never recertify as paramedics again in Indiana. HB 1186 has passed the legislature and when you next re-up, you will be a "licensed paramedic". Only difference as I see it right now is that now you're going to have to pay to keep playing. I'd really have liked to see them remove the affiliation requirement, but they did not.

Blessings,
Bill

 

[elwoodward]

Just curious, I have heard an answer but it was from someone who is anti-2a, is it against the law for an EMT to carry? I'm starting classes for my EMT-B soon and would prefer to carry as long as it is not illegal. Obviously if it is, it would be deep concealment.

Illegal? No. Against just about all EMS service providers SOPs? YES.

 

[stephen87]

Thank you, sirs. I wanted to get a better opinion than some anti who thinks guns should be against the law anywhere. I would ask for something to back that up, but if it's not against the law you can't really prove anything.

I see what you're saying, Bill. Just like you said, if I can't defend myself uow can I expect to be able to help someone if the situation goes south. Number one priority is me, then others because if I'm injured I'm no help.

 

[bluewraith]

Thank you, sirs. I wanted to get a better opinion than some anti who thinks guns should be against the law anywhere. I would ask for something to back that up, but if it's not against the law you can't really prove anything.

I see what you're saying, Bill. Just like you said, if I can't defend myself uow can I expect to be able to help someone if the situation goes south. Number one priority is me, then others because if I'm injured I'm no help.

Priority one: Yourself
Priority two: Your partner
Priority three: ...what patient? I'm out in the truck on the way out!

The whole "Scene safe".. yeah, don't count on cops to clear the scene for you. If SWAT is involved, be mindful of their guns. They *will* have them trained onto the back of your head while you're working they guy they just shot in the chest.

 

[mike8170]

I wouldn't consider doing it if I couldn't carry. A good friend who works for Wishard has told me stories about hearing the shots around the corner and then immediately getting dispatched to go pick the perforated guy up...

Best,

Joe

I was working for Wishard and our truck was used to raid crack house!

 

[The Bubba Effect]

EMS, pizza delivery, plumber, preacher, baker, butcher, candlestick maker, etc.

I want all good people armed.

 

[ggglobert9]

To show you how things have changed over the years...I worked for 10 years as a Paramedic in Ft Wayne a good many years ago. Back "then" we didn't have bullet proof vests. We approached our employer ( at the time it was Mercy Ambulance) about getting them and were denied as they said we shouldn't be anyplace we would need a vest! Ha...we then offered to buy our own and were denied. The medics now all either wear them or are atleast have the option.

 

[lrahm]

It's not much of a problem here but could be. Any EMS run could become hazardous. A good number of the EMT's are great people "rmabry" for one. In most reported hot runs, the EMT's stage until police are on scene and called in. I feel though if the employer would allow it, they should have the opportunity to carry.