CC On An Emergency Vehicle

[RSWORDS]

Does anyone know the laws regarding this in VA? I'm a Vol Firefighter/Medic and no one can get us any answers one way or another. Thanks

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Guantes]

What does your departmental policy say?

[CLASS3NH]

What does your departmental policy say?

+1 on what Guantes has said

[RSWORDS]

Seems like its been proposed but still in the works to lift the ban

http://www.townhall.state.va.us/L/Vi...fm?textid=4092

[firemedic174]

I am a paramedic and in my experience in different volunteer depts and paid services is that you cant carry. I am not sure of laws regarding it...but in TX, FL, and MS no one can carry on our trucks or rigs. Not unless you are a LEO..

[Bark'n]

Not sure about VA. In Missouri it's merely a policy issue at each individual agency or department. There is no state law against it and the state EMS bureau will not revoke your EMS license. However, you may lose your job depending on your department policy.

[Black Knight]

Check with your local Commonwealth Attorney's Office. Since they do the prosecutions they do know the laws of Virginia.

[SIGguy229]

Paramedic should weigh in on this one...

[xoolo]

I often thought about this in the 8 years on a vol dept...
I just kept thinking if I put bunker gear on and go inside a burning building, do I want my gun and ammo on me? not that it would go off, but even just the straps from the SCBA pack might hurt a little. Or the added size poking out the side of me could aid in compressing the insulation on my gear causing a hot spot.
And if I were to gear up there wasn't really a secure place to put it if I took it off...
or if there was a RIT issue and I had to rescue, or be rescued what would the issues be with harness etc.

[paramedic70002]

I'm here! 100% legal. However, you may be sent somewhere that you can't carry, like a courtroom or jail. Which is why I think there should be a law exempting on duty Fire & EMS from some of these laws and providing authorization to carry and employer immunity, so that you can declare and secure your weapon before entering others, such as secured correctional facilities.

[paramedic70002]

VA: ALERT 12/18/05

*************************************************
> 7. Weapons ban in EMS vehicles invalid and not
> being enforced
> *************************************************
>
> For those who have been on this list for a while,
> you might recall
> our efforts to get a repeal on a regulation that
> prohibited EMS
> personnel with CHPs from carrying on ambulances. On
> January 17th,
> 2003 I sent out an update stating that we had won.
>
> We did, but one part of the law was inadvertently
> left on the books.
> A few of our members found this recently and one
> contacted the Office
> of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) about the
> problem.
>
> The member was told that the OEMS was aware of the
> problem and the
> regulation was NOT being enforced.
>
> That's good but they need to get the regulation
> completely off the
> books anyhow!
>
> Here is the email from OEMS to our member:
>
> From: Michael Berg
> Sent: Friday, December 16, 2005 3:59 PM
> To: xxx
> Cc: Gary Brown
> Subject: Weapons and EMS
>
> Dear Mr. xxx,
>
> As the Manager for the Regulation and Compliance
> Division for the
> Office of Emergency Medical Services, Mr. Brown has
> asked that I
> reply to your inquiry. Your question concerns the
> ability for EMS
> providers to be able to carry weapons during the
> course of their
> duties, especially while on an ambulance or
> responding to a request
> for assistance.
>
> When the current version of the EMS Regulations were
> being
> promulgated (January 15, 2003), there was indeed a
> proposed
> regulation disallowing the carrying of weapons by
> EMS personnel on an
> ambulance. There was a mounted campaign against such
> a proposal and
> indeed the proposed regulation was withdrawn.
> Unfortunately, in
> another section of the regulations, specifically, 12
> VAC 5-31- 700
> EMS Safety (6) in part states, "Possession of a
> firearm, weapon, or
> explosive or incendiary device on any EMS vehicle is
> prohibited,
> exceptŠ" This was to have been removed during the
> revision process
> and simply was an oversight. We have
> administratively directed our
> field staff to not enforce this specific provision
> of the regulations.
>
> I hope this answers your questions and addresses
> your concerns.
> Please feel free to call on me should we be of any
> additional
> assistance.
>
> Michael D. Berg
> Manager, Regulation and Compliance
> Virginia Office of EMS
> 109 Governor Street, Suite UB-55
> Richmond, Virginia 23219
> (804)864-7615 (Office)
> (804)864-7580 (Fax)
> (800)523-6019 (Virginia only)
> Michael.Berg@vdh.virginia.gov
>
>

The EMS regs get revised every 5 years. The ban has not AFAIK resurfaced in the proposed new regs.

Remember that in VA whatever is not illegal, is legal. Anyone says carry on EMS vehicles is illegal, challenge them to show you the Code.

Agencies and employers still have the authority to ban carry of their employees unless you happen to be a certified sworn law officer (like auxiliary or career) and your Chief/Sheriff authorize/require you to carry 24/7. Many EMS agencies have no such policies. Don't ask, don't tell!