Private Security Officer Asks For Your Permit How Do You Handle It

[Smoke]

This is a second hand account from the report of an incident that occurred a few years back where I work.

Two people walking to a car in a parking garage at night. One (female) is, as reported, somewhat intoxicated the other (Male) doesn’t appear to be. They are arguing and the security guard approaches them and asks if everything’s OK. The female turns to the guard and tells him that her buddy has a gun.

The guard asked the buddy “Do you have a gun sir?’ The buddy responds in the affirmative and the guard asks if he has a permit. Again, the buddy replies yes.

The guard then states that the police have been notified, they’re on their way and would the buddy mind if the guard secured his weapon until the police arrive. I want to be perfectly clear that this was a request the guard did not demand the weapon.

The buddy turns his weapon over to the guard and the guard holds it until the police arrive.

To be clear the guard didn’t demand anything in this scenario he asked if the guy was armed, he asked if he could see the permit and he asked if he could secure the weapon until the police arrived.The buddy voluntarily complied W/ the guard’s requests

So what would you do if a private security guard asked to inspect your permit and secure you weapon? Would you comply? Would you wait for the police?

 

[Trashman4015]

I'd wait for the police personally

 

[hobby-gunsmith]

private security officer

First of all I would not surrender my firearm to any one but the police. The security guard is not a sworn law enforcement officer. You are in an area that is opened to the public and you have a right to be there. As a security guard, he is acting in behalf of his employer and basically he is a private citizen. He has no arresting powers and if he warns you of a trespass and advises you to leave, then you must comply or be charged with trespassing. If he advises the police are on their way, I would wait for them. You have done nothing wrong and he cannot detain you. At least that is the way it is addressed in Florida.

Nick

 

[Smitty357]

I wouldnt be giving my weapon to anyone aside from the LEO. Whos to say this guy is actually a security officer. FOr all i know he could be dressed as one and may be out looking for people to take advantage of. I'd rather my weapon stay on me, so i can protect me and mine in case this guy tries something. If the police are on their way, thats fine. I will hang out until they get here if he tells me they are coming. I will then surrender my weapon to them and follow commands.

 

[S&W45Colt]

I'd tell him I appreciate his concern, but I don't appreciate his calling the Police since he has no clue what's going on and it was not a physical altercation. I would also tell him I will wait for the police, but have no intention of disarming, handing him my gun or providing him with identification it's not in his job description to need, no offense, but I don't know you from Adam and you can rent that suit. .

Now, if I were on private/business property and thought I wanted to stay, I would show him my CCW, in my wallet, in my hand and not have the ole let me hold on to it routine.

 

[sophie]

I would not surrender my gun to the security guard. He has no authority to ask you to do this. I too would wait for the law enforcement and let them sort this out in the proper manner. Too many wanna be's out there and difficult to know the difference.

 

[gdnagle]

First of all I would not surrender my firearm to any one but the police. The security guard is not a sworn law enforcement officer. You are in an area that is opened to the public and you have a right to be there. As a security guard, he is acting in behalf of his employer and basically he is a private citizen. He has no arresting powers and if he warns you of a trespass and advises you to leave, then you must comply or be charged with trespassing. If he advises the police are on their way, I would wait for them. You have done nothing wrong and he cannot detain you. Nick

+1 Nope only give mine up to LE and only show permit to LE.

I went through something like this with a PI who was on private property without permission. He was doing surveillance on someone in a suspicious manner and we called LE as we thought he was looking into windows. LE shows up and tells us the PI, which we didn't know was a PI, didn't have to notify us of anything and we had no right to stop or detain him or anyone else and was against the law for us to do so. This is when we notified LE that, that was the reason they were called. This was in MD years ago.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I can't imagine getting into an argument in public as to raise the attention of anyone. Nevertheless, I would have thanked the guard for his concern but there was no need, then got in my car and driven home or wherever I was intending to go.

My carry gun belongs in it's holster.

 

[jack the toad]

Can't speak for other state law but in Okla I'd get in my car and leave before cops arrived if that's what I wanted to do.

 

[Smoke]

In Colorado the only special legal authority private security has is the right to act in place of the owner of the property, they can tell you “you can’t come in”; they can tell you “you have to leave.” And if you don’t they can have you cited for trespassing. They do not have the authority to detain you unless they actually witness a crime such as if the guy had turned around and slugged the female when she said “He has a gun.” And that’s the same citizen’s arrest authority any one has.

If it were me being asked “Do you have a gun?” I’d simply say “No.” and end the interaction.

As for waiting for the police I think it would depend because the Guard is going to get your license plate number as you drive out so I’d have to decide if I was willing to risk the police not following up on the guard’s complaint.

 

[Badquaker]

I would tell him to get bent. As a law abiding citizen, I would have gotten in my vehicle and left. The police showing up, with an intoxicated passenger, is just an excuse to get hassled. Depending upon the relationship with the intoxicated passenger, I might leave their butt behind.

 

[mkk41]

Wouldn't be with a woman who would flap her gums like that.

 

[omastekola]

My son is a Security Officer at a hospital. Every once in a while people are arguing etc. when he tries to break it up he's told to go screw himself, you damned wannabe. He says, well if you don't like the badge on my shirt, how about this one in my wallet. He's also a full time (for about 15 years) Sworn LEO. Their tones change quickly. Many of the places like schools, hospitals, college campuses Around here the security officers are off duty police, deputies, etc.

 

[Bozz10mm]

Well first of all, I would be highly pissed at the female companion. If the cops were already on the way, might as well stay and wait for them. They will track you down anyway. Give my weapon to the security guard? Heck no, he's already got one.

 

[labworm]

I'd tell the security guard to "pound sand",

 

[S&W45Colt]

I'd tell the security guard to "pound sand",

Now that's funny, I almost posted the exact same thing verbatim, great minds think alike.

 

[K1500]

It sounds like everything went fine. The guard was just doing his job, and asked (not demanded) in a nice manner. It is up to the individual to grant or deny the request. He willingly granted it so no big deal.

The guard does not have the authority to demand a permit or weapon, so you don't have to give it to him. I believe would have waited for the PD to show up before giving it to him, but I wasn't there.

 

[bonjorno2]

First of all I would not surrender my firearm to any one but the police. The security guard is not a sworn law enforcement officer. You are in an area that is opened to the public and you have a right to be there. As a security guard, he is acting in behalf of his employer and basically he is a private citizen. He has no arresting powers and if he warns you of a trespass and advises you to leave, then you must comply or be charged with trespassing. If he advises the police are on their way, I would wait for them. You have done nothing wrong and he cannot detain you. At least that is the way it is addressed in Florida.

Nick

This^^^ well said

 

[CoMF]

I'm of the opinion that the guy's first and biggest mistake was telling his female friend (not wife or signifigant other) that he was carrying in the first place. Loose lips sink ships.

I don't keep the fact I carry under wraps because I'm ashamed of it; I keep it under wraps because I don't want to go through the hassle of someone who's angry at me telling a private security guard or police officer that I'm armed solely out of spite.

 

[Doug M.]

Don't associate with stupid people who will do stuff like she did.
Second, as to the private security officer, he would get no answer, or at least one I couldn't post here.
Third, as for a PI trespassing and not being able to force him to leave, if that cop was right (not a certain thing), I'd be raising hell with my legislators to get that fixed. Do that around here and he'd be leaving in cuffs or on a gurney (to be followed by cuffs after release), his choice.