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Daddio-on-patio wrote:My opinion this would not apply to hospital staff. They are definitive care not first responders.
Working in rural EMS it is very often only myself and my partner arriving on scene in what can be sketchy circumstances. Many of my coworkers are LTC'ers and we have SOP's allowing us to carry on duty. However, that is terminated at the ED doors as the vast majority are 06-07's. So we disarm and secure with a lock box in the MICU. That being said, not all who are LTC do so due to the potential of working a busy call, not disarming when entering a facility, and being a test case.
I have spoke with three different retired officers (two Fort Worth, one Arlington) that provide initial classes for LTC and a retired Dallas detective that is in proper retirement mode (fishing. A lot!) They seem to think there is no need for a uniformed first responder in the line of duty to carry. Our County deputies and the couple of paid department officers are overwhelming supportive of us carrying. Rural EMS and law enforcement is a different environment from the more urban and suburban locations which tend to have much quicker response times with larger numbers of responders along with increased capabilities.

I would like to have the legal ability to carry on duty. And for those who have not scene a firefighter armed I would suggest you meet with a fire Marshall. Many of them are TCLEOSE, badge, and armed.

Peace for the New Year.

Charles L. Cotton wrote:HB56 adopts the definition of "first responder" found in Health and Safety Code §161.001.

Chas.

H&S Code §161.001(1-a) wrote:Sec. 161.0001. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1-a) "First responder" means:

(A) any federal, state, local, or private personnel who may respond to a disaster, including:

• (i) public health and public safety personnel;
  
  (ii) commissioned law enforcement personnel;
  
  (iii) fire protection personnel, including volunteer firefighters;
  
  (iv) emergency medical services personnel, including hospital emergency facility staff;
  
  (v) a member of the National Guard;
  
  (vi) a member of the Texas State Guard; or
  
  (vii) any other worker who responds to a disaster in the worker's scope of employment; or

(B) any related personnel that provide support services during the prevention, response, and recovery phases of a disaster.

carlson1 wrote:

nightmare69 wrote:

carlson1 wrote:

nightmare69 wrote:
I don't see EMS being able to carry either as I've heard of a federal law prohibiting carrying a firearm while in possession of narcotics.

What law? If you have had a surgery and taking a pain pill I don't know of a law that bands you from your using your LTC.

Beats me, heard it from some hose draggers. They said since their ambulance contains narcotics they cannot carry a firearm because it could be viewed as drug trafficking.

Other than what you mention in your first post about Company Policy I would think this would benefit the ambulance and fire. I would guess the liberal Cities like Dallas, Houston, Austin, etc. . . probably have a policy of no firearms. Maybe with this law passing there it would bar Cities from banning our first responders.

carlson1 wrote:

nightmare69 wrote:
I don't see EMS being able to carry either as I've heard of a federal law prohibiting carrying a firearm while in possession of narcotics.

What law? If you have had a surgery and taking a pain pill I don't know of a law that bands you from your using your LTC.

HB56 (Flynn, R, A+) Relating to the carrying of a handgun by a first responder engaged in the actual discharge of the first responder's duties.
Impact: Renders 30.06 and 30.07 signs unenforceable as to first responders responding to a call.