PA Bill Number: HB2235
Title: Providing for regulation of the meat packing and food processing industry by creating facility health and safety committees in the workplace; ...
Description: Providing for regulation of the meat packing and food processing industry by creating facility health and safety committees in the workplace; ... ...
Last Action: Referred to LABOR AND INDUSTRY
Last Action Date: Apr 25, 2024
Should Firefighters Be Allowed to Carry Guns? :: 01/05/2016
They run into burning buildings, risking their lives every day. But should firefighters have more than an axe and hose whey they respond to a call?
Representative Kevin Cooke brought up the idea in a previous Georgia legislative session, first responders carrying guns on scene.
The proposal is for their safety.. But will having a weapon actually make them safer?
A dangerous and frightening scene back in 2013.
The Idea of Firefighters needing guns stemmed originally from 2013 hostage situation involving five firefighters
Five firefighters lured into a home, held hostage by a Gwinnett County man.
After hours, a SWAT team rescued the firefighters, killing the suspect.
“Is someone is planning to do it. they are going to have the drop on you anyway,” explains Pooler Fire Chief Wade Simmons.
Pooler Fire Chief Wade Simmons says for every firefighter safety is an issue. But, his guys “packing heat” on a ladder truck just creates more issues.
Pooler Fire Chief Wade Simmons doesn’t believe firefighters need weapons
“What do we do in a fire situation?” says Simmons. “We dont want to take a loaded gun into the high heat environment. So now we have to take it off and put it in the vehicle. So now i have to modify the vehicle to put a gun safe in it for 3-4 personnel. So now i have to have a big gun safe because you have to get 3-4 guns in there. its on and off did someone forget to lock it.”
That also means their guns could fall into the wrong hands.
“We are on the scene of a medical incident our focus is on the patient,” says the Chief. “They arent worried about a gun on their hip or anything else. Thats leaves them exposed to where someone may be able to get another weapon.”
Simmons also wonders what the patients, the people asking for help, will think.
“You walk in with a pistol on you and automatically people are getting defensive no matter what it is. That causes additional problems. Where is that trust. he’s got a gun on him, why does he have a gun does he not trust me?”
Simmons trusts Pooler Police officers who are called to any scene that could be dangerous or where firefighters feel unsafe. That’s so his guys can do their job without worrying about anything more than the flames in front of them.
“At some point you become the jack of all trades and you begin losing our ability to be really good at what our primary functions are,” explains Chief Simmons.
News 3 also talked to Savannah Fire officials about the idea.
Chief Middleton said City policy doesn’t permit any employee to carry firearms on duty.
Even if state legislation was passed, he wouldn’t approve it.
So far the firefighter gun proposal is not on the legislative ballot for this year.
