Firearms in the Fire Department???

Times are getting worse and we as firefighters have been faced with many dangers over the years. As some may remember, a firefighter was shot and killed as he was getting off the engine last year! While this made national news, I'm sure it happens more often than reported in the headlines. At my department we're close with the sherriff department and we look out for each other! But we recently had an inccident where there was a domestic dispute and it was stated that the assailant was armed but he was gone. He did leave, but he came back and the sherriff was still enroute. Even though we were suggested to stage the rescue and Batt chief went in to help! After a few uneasy moments the sherriff showed up and everything turned out ok! Do you think that at least one person, like an officer, should carry a gun as a last resort defense?

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Permalink Reply by Deanna on April 21, 2009 at 3:45pm

I don't know, there are calls that we have responed to and been shot at. Also, we go into areas that are potentialy filled with dangerous wildlife. I would say it would be up to the discretion of the chief officers. If they feel that the person carrying will be able to make good judgment or be dangerous. This is way to contorversial for me to say yes or no either way.

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Permalink Reply by rfdjumper on April 21, 2009 at 3:52pm

Simply put No! This has been discussed before on FFN.

http://www.firefighternation.com/xn/detail/889755

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Permalink Reply by Mick Shelley on April 21, 2009 at 3:57pm

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Permalink Reply by CHIEF NORMAN on April 21, 2009 at 4:03pm

WELL AS A CHIEF ALL I CAN SAY IS THE REASON MY GUYS BECOME FIREFIGHTERS WAS TO SAVE LIVES, NOT TAKE ONE...THAT'S Y WE HAVE COPS....THEY CARRY GUNS WE CARRY HOSE'S...""QUOTE-UNQUOTE""

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Permalink Reply by John on April 21, 2009 at 4:04pm

No absolutely not.

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Permalink Reply by John Rulli Jr. on April 21, 2009 at 4:10pm

NO WAY!!!!!

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Permalink Reply by Jake Fireman on April 21, 2009 at 4:11pm

Unless you are an Arson Investigator and certified/qualified to carry...I say NO!

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Permalink Reply by Jake Fireman on April 21, 2009 at 4:16pm

Believe me I am an ardent supporter of our Second Ammendment rights...Samuel are you saying that a fire department is now a militia?

They don't belong simply due to safety precautions

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Permalink Reply by Jake Fireman on April 21, 2009 at 4:25pm

Ditto!

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Permalink Reply by Truckie Jay on April 21, 2009 at 4:25pm

Thanks you Jake! I was thinking the same thing..

Absolutely not!! We start carrying firearms the public opinion of LEO's will be the same opinion that express towards us. Do FF's get into situations where their life is at a higher risk due to armed or violent people in the area? Yes but don't kid yourself and think that would lessen if we started carrying firearms. Personally, I think the situations would increase dramatically.