EMT Carry

[stephen87]

After a discussion on here a few weeks ago, I decided to look up some news stories and talk to some people I know. After seeing some of the stories, I wrote my state senator. I filled him on my idea of allowing EMTs to carry in places where law enforcement are only allowed, only while on duty though. I put a couple of stories that I had heard and some that ai had found online in there and requested it to be considered. Yo my surprise, he loves the idea of all first responders having the option of being armed with no repercussions and he would like to introduce a bill at a Senate hearing sometime soon. I know some people are against stuff like that, but our responders need to be protected all the time, not just while LEOs are on scene. So if you feel the same, please write your representative as well.

 

[BlueEagle]

If I'm going to trust someone to keep me alive on the way to the doctors, why WOULDN'T I trust them to carry a gun? Especially knowing some of the crap they have to do to get people out of ****ty situations, I wouldn't feel right sending them in unarmed.

 

[fng120]

Please read this link.

Should firefighters be Armed

 

[elwoodward]

After a discussion on here a few weeks ago, I decided to look up some news stories and talk to some people I know. After seeing some of the stories, I wrote my state senator. I filled him on my idea of allowing EMTs to carry in places where law enforcement are only allowed, only while on duty though. I put a couple of stories that I had heard and some that ai had found online in there and requested it to be considered. Yo my surprise, he loves the idea of all first responders having the option of being armed with no repercussions and he would like to introduce a bill at a Senate hearing sometime soon. I know some people are against stuff like that, but our responders need to be protected all the time, not just while LEOs are on scene. So if you feel the same, please write your representative as well.

Any way we could get a copy of your letter or email sent to your senator i would love to set up a Google document of a pre-written message for the people that don't want to have to write a letter themselves but want to send one.

 

[sloughfoot]

Excellent link. Rep coming.

 

[rockhopper46038]

I'm not opposed to this idea, but I'd rather we just extend our Constitutionally guaranteed right to all citizens, instead of creating yet another group of people that are afforded a right that all lawful gun owners should enjoy.

 

[BlueEagle]

I'm not opposed to this idea, but I'd rather we just extend our Constitutionally guaranteed right to all citizens, instead of creating yet another group of people that are afforded a right that all lawful gun owners should enjoy.

I'm up for this as well.

 

[hoosierdoc]

They have drug boxes with benzos and narcotics and bring them to wherever they are called. Think of the pharmacy holdups. I would like them to have the option of carrying as well while on duty with same exemptions as police.

Edit: just the crews assigned 911 duty, not private transfer services

 

[GBuck]

There is a huge difference between supporting the 2nd Amendment and supporting the right to be armed 24/7, and particularly while at work.

 

[stephen87]

I'm not opposed to this idea, but I'd rather we just extend our Constitutionally guaranteed right to all citizens, instead of creating yet another group of people that are afforded a right that all lawful gun owners should enjoy.

I agree, rockhopper. However, right now we don't have enough people willing to stand up in his country, so we'll have to settle for baby steps right now. Hopefully one day we will get to the point where there are no restrictions on who, what, and where we may carry and own.

 

[stephen87]

Any way we could get a copy of your letter or email sent to your senator i would love to set up a Google document of a pre-written message for the people that don't want to have to write a letter themselves but want to send one.

Sure thing. I will post it later today when I'm on my computer.

 

[stephen87]

As promised, here is my email that I sent to my local representative.

Dear Senator Waltz
Most people think it is a law enforcement officer’s job to protect us from harm and people out there who only wish to do no good to us when in reality it is to react to a situation that has already occurred. I, however, take a proactive stance to crime rather than a reactive stance. One of those steps is through becoming licensed to carry a handgun to better protect myself and others around me. Thousands of people in the state of Indiana take the same stance of arming themselves, including EMTs, paramedics, and firefighters.
I am writing you today in hopes that you can help protect the emergency responders in the state of Indiana. Currently Indiana code states that “Indiana License to Carry a Handgun” holders may not possess firearms on school property, on a school bus, in a jail, on an airplane, in a federal facility, in a government center in which a court room resides, the State Fair, riverboat casinos, and shipping ports. The only excepted persons are law enforcement officers. EMTs, paramedics, and firefighters will come in contact with one or more of the places listed above on occasion. Since they never know when they will be called to one of the places that would mean they will never be able to carry a firearm while on duty and therefore cannot protect themselves. If they were to carry a firearm onto school property and leave it behind or into one of the facilities they would be committing a felony and by rule would no longer be a “proper person.” This would not only mean jail time for them, but also revocation of their license and would make it impossible for them to remain an emergency responder. By adding them to the very exclusive list of excepted persons it could spell out great things for this state.
While emergency responders may never have a need to protect themselves, there are instances where they do need to protect themselves. If they are transporting someone and that person becomes irate and attacks, they have no means to protect themselves if attacked. If they respond to a simple scene of someone overdosing on medication and that medication makes them hallucinate, they cannot protect themselves. Just last year during Occupy Wall Street an EMT was attacked by the protestors and sent to the hospital. Two years ago, EMTs were called to a home in Mount Vernon, NH where a patient was having difficulty breathing. A call such as that does not require the law enforcement to investigate. The patient and her father met the EMTs when they arrived. While asking standard questions the EMTs were attacked and had to fight for their lives while waiting for law enforcement to arrive. The EMTs were taken to hospital for various injuries.
I would like to help all emergency responders protect themselves. They are our local heroes and should have the right to defend themselves where ever they respond. Please contact me if you would be willing to take on the task of helping propose something to keep all emergency responders, not just law enforcement offices, safe.

I used very specific examples for instances when an emergency responder would not have LEOs on scene but would need to defend themselves. Feel free to adjust with other stories so that tey can see there are other times that emergency responders would need protected. Especially if you can show that someone did not stop until they were forced to.

 

[elwoodward]

As promised, here is my email that I sent to my local representative.


I used very specific examples for instances when an emergency responder would not have LEOs on scene but would need to defend themselves. Feel free to adjust with other stories so that they can see there are other times that emergency responders would need protected. Especially if you can show that someone did not stop until they were forced to.

ill research some other stories and include a one of my own personal stories. Even if the use of firearms isn't needed in the story many people would think twice about giving EMS any extra problems just by seeing that they are carrying.

 

[ag563]

Please read this link.

Should firefighters be Armed

when I was a vol. firefighter, a guy pulled a shot gun on us, when we told him his house burned down because he put a penny behide a blown fuse.

 

[Somemedic]

I've asked on several occasions if my chiefs would say its ok to wear vests and they still say we would be confused for police or it sends the wrong message. It should be a continuing education qualification just like evoc where you have to get classes on it and maintain it, just like a medic in the military carries a side arm. To continue to carry you would have to get hours on it every year.

 

[Bill of Rights]

After a discussion on here a few weeks ago, I decided to look up some news stories and talk to some people I know. After seeing some of the stories, I wrote my state senator. I filled him on my idea of allowing EMTs to carry in places where law enforcement are only allowed, only while on duty though. I put a couple of stories that I had heard and some that ai had found online in there and requested it to be considered. Yo my surprise, he loves the idea of all first responders having the option of being armed with no repercussions and he would like to introduce a bill at a Senate hearing sometime soon. I know some people are against stuff like that, but our responders need to be protected all the time, not just while LEOs are on scene. So if you feel the same, please write your representative as well.

If I'm going to trust someone to keep me alive on the way to the doctors, why WOULDN'T I trust them to carry a gun? Especially knowing some of the crap they have to do to get people out of ****ty situations, I wouldn't feel right sending them in unarmed.

As one of those people you're trusting (for which I thank you; it's appreciated), I don't want to be part of a special subset of our population. I don't want special recognition of EMS' right to carry here or there. I want the right recognized for EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE with the exception of penal facilities and secure facilities housing the insane, and those places I want a lockup at the entry where I can secure my firearm and from which I can retrieve it when I leave. I consider it responsible to secure my pistol at the entry of those places.

They have drug boxes with benzos and narcotics and bring them to wherever they are called. Think of the pharmacy holdups. I would like them to have the option of carrying as well while on duty with same exemptions as police.

Edit: just the crews assigned 911 duty, not private transfer services

Hold on there, Doc... Those private transfer service medics still carry benzos and narcs just as do 911 services and are still vulnerable, perhaps moreso for services that post in the parking lot of a hospital or similar place rather than at a station. The right needs to not be restricted; that would be like saying that a doc can carry if he works in an ER but not at an urgent-care/doc-in-a-box clinic or in his own office.

Rights apply to everyone or they are not rights, just privileges to be given and taken on political whims.

Blessings,
Bill

 

[stephen87]

As one of those people you're trusting (for which I thank you; it's appreciated), I don't want to be part of a special subset of our population. I don't want special recognition of EMS' right to carry here or there. I want the right recognized for EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE with the exception of penal facilities and secure facilities housing the insane, and those places I want a lockup at the entry where I can secure my firearm and from which I can retrieve it when I leave. I consider it responsible to secure my pistol at the entry of those places.
*snip*

As I said before, I believe the right should be unrestricted as well. However, I believe we have the numbers behind us but we do not have the number who are willing to stand up and voice their opinion, so baby steps is what it's going to take. If I could write my Senator and he would be willing to stand up and say "Look, why do we have any restrictions on firearms when the Constitution says that we should not be restricted, we need to fix this," I would. However, reality is that it won't be like this for quite awhile. When that day comes, I will be willing to stand up for our rights, until then I can only send letters proposing legislation that could eventually lead to that.

 

[Bill of Rights]

As I said before, I believe the right should be unrestricted as well. However, I believe we have the numbers behind us but we do not have the number who are willing to stand up and voice their opinion, so baby steps is what it's going to take. If I could write my Senator and he would be willing to stand up and say "Look, why do we have any restrictions on firearms when the Constitution says that we should not be restricted, we need to fix this," I would. However, reality is that it won't be like this for quite awhile. When that day comes, I will be willing to stand up for our rights, until then I can only send letters proposing legislation that could eventually lead to that.

I've seen and heard Sen. Waltz on this subject and I think he'd support a bill of that nature as well, though too many others don't quite recognize the right to the extent he does. He sometimes comes across as smug and sarcastic in his questions and speeches on various bills, but I don't at all fault him that (I can do it myself on occasion... ) He's as staunch a defender of the RKBA as anyone and moreso than most and is a good person to have in office.

I get the idea of "baby steps", of nibbling back bits and pieces of our much-infringed rights as we can. I would, however, be a hypocrite to support this initiative to benefit myself and not at the same time expect the same to be done for everyone else whose intention is solely to act in their own defense. I would support a bill that removed "gun control" but that added "criminal control"... that is, anyone may be armed. Those who use their guns to commit criminal acts automatically have a sentence enhancement when they're caught.. meaning that if you commit a robbery and the sentence is 2-10 with an advisory sentence of 5 years, half of which you'll actually serve, the sentence for committing that crime armed is automatically 10-20 with no "time off for good behavior" and no lesser "advisory sentence"... The practice being that a robber may serve up to 10 years, but an armed robber will do a full 20 AND pay restitution to those he robbed. (perhaps doing road work or similar and earning minimum wage per hour, all or most of which goes to pay his victims, since his room and board are being paid for by all the rest of us.)

Getting back to the point, I want EMS to be able to carry wherever we need to go. I also want everyone else to have the same unfettered right. For someone doing the job to ask otherwise, IMHO, is hypocrisy. (not pointing fingers at you or anyone else, just saying I don't see how I could support this and still be true to my views.)


Blessings,
Bill

 

[stephen87]

I agree, however I am not an EMT, Paramedic, or any of the sorts. I would like to eventually get into that type of stuff, but I am not right now. If I were to need an EMT and they showed up, I would be happy if they were armed. I do understand where you're coming from though. Maybe you could even write your senator to inform them that many of us would be in favor of some type of legislation that did exactly what you're saying. If you started it, I would gladly write something to the same effect to Senator Waltz.

 

[hoosierdoc]

Hold on there, Doc... Those private transfer service medics still carry benzos and narcs just as do 911 services and are still vulnerable, perhaps moreso for services that post in the parking lot of a hospital or similar place rather than at a station. The right needs to not be restricted; that would be like saying that a doc can carry if he works in an ER but not at an urgent-care/doc-in-a-box clinic or in his own office.

When I wrote it I figured someone would take issue. I wasn't firm in the belief but left it there for discussion. Good points Bill. The reason I backed away from private transfer services is that they don't tend to be summoned to private homes. I guess they could be now that I think about it. The OP asked about EMTs as "first responders" which an EMT as a private service is not. They are a medical taxi service. I likened that to any other delivery service personnel and as such we shouldn't push for that at this point.

Now, if I call Rural Metro as a private citizen to drive me somewhere, I can see how that is outside what I was intending because I'd be summoning them to some location.