@The DoggFather interested in your view having been in the security business: Chris Minns has ruled out security guards being allowed to carry guns (and I don’t disagree, otherwise we’re one step closer to an American system where people who stamp your passport have a hand cannon strapped to their belts) - but that security guard ‘weaponry’ may be reviewed. Something in addition to a hi-vis vest might be useful, but what? Some sort of baton or something?
Well I used to carry an extendable batton, which I've never had to use, not very useful against a gun but could of come very handy against a knife. I guess other "non-lethal" options would be pepper spray or tasers, but should be only be obtained by completing a course to get a condition on your license to use and carry.
But then you have to apply equal and reasonable force IE you can't use arms against an unarmed perp. But even then it's full of grey areas where you could just say "I feared for my life".
If that Minns is serious, the whole licensing process needs an overhaul and made tougher and more strict. Its a joke, that's why the quality of guards are rubbish now. It gets treated as a good second job that you can get paid cash on the side. You sit in a class for 10-14 days, very minimal hands on training (I had to do majority of training through other agencies), pass a criminal check and then you're licensed.
TBH also immigrants from 3rd world countries get all the jobs because they are willing to "work" for peanuts, im talking as low as $8 an hour cash. Which drives proper guards away to better paying jobs (pubs/clubs).
Plus you even have training centres that basically sell you a license, you pay them and they pass you and certify you without in doing the course. Some get busted but plenty of them still do it.
PS I was allowed to carry when I was protecting cash and when I was a bodyguard protecting people that could afford it but wasn't allowed when you had to protect hundreds or thousands of human lives....
PPS part of the course is watching "Roadhouse", true story lol