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Comments to support removal of regulation against EMS carrying weapons

paramedic70002

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2006
Messages
1,440
Location
Franklin, VA, Virginia, USA
*LINKS FIXED*

The long awaited Final Stage of implementing new EMS Regulations in VA is at hand!

Ever since PVC called the State Office of EMS about this, they have stated that they "do not enforce" this section of the Regulations. Now is when it officially gets erased from the Virginia Administrative Code.

The new 12VAC5-31-700 removes this silly item:

6. Possession of a firearm, weapon, or explosive or incendiary device on any EMS vehicle is prohibited, except:
a. A sworn law-enforcement officer authorized to carry a concealed weapon pursuant to § 18.2-308 of the Code of Virginia.

b. Any rescue line gun or other rescue device powered by an explosive charge carried on a nontransport response vehicle.

The actual regulation can be found here:

http://tinyurl.com/8lbtdqd

The place to go, to make comments in support of this move (even if you're not in EMS, or live out of state), is:

http://tinyurl.com/8v4pue9

Click on "Enter a comment" to get started.

Thanks for helping what should be a "done deal!"
 
Last edited:

paramedic70002

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2006
Messages
1,440
Location
Franklin, VA, Virginia, USA
Peter Nap,

The Governor had previously stated that he would not advance any new state regulations unless there was a life safety issue.

Good: Prevent advancing mostly useless government control over our lives.

Bad: EMS constantly evolving at the national level with VA about to get left behind. National Registry of EMTs completely revamped standards, certification levels and nomenclature. VA relies on NREMT to provide standard curriculum and testing.

Glad to see it come to pass, although as usual I find a few odd items in the mix.
 

Jay

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Jul 3, 2009
Messages
307
Location
Charlottesville, VA
The problem is the repealing of the weapons band does not force the individual agencies to allow it. The individual agencies can still forbid it I have a huge issue with that. Doesn't anyone else??
 

TFred

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Oct 13, 2008
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7,750
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Most historic town in, Virginia, USA
The problem is the repealing of the weapons band does not force the individual agencies to allow it. The individual agencies can still forbid it I have a huge issue with that. Doesn't anyone else??
We all do, but it takes one step at a time.

Agency preemption has long been near the top of the list of things to fix.

TFred
 

skidmark

Campaign Veteran
Joined
Jan 15, 2007
Messages
10,444
Location
Valhalla
The problem is the repealing of the weapons band does not force the individual agencies to allow it. The individual agencies can still forbid it I have a huge issue with that. Doesn't anyone else??

Read http://ambulancedriverfiles.com/2012/09/13/virginia-emts-granted-right-to-carry/

Kelly is big in the EMS field, as well as being a huge 2A/RKBA supporter and advocate. There's a lot of good commentary from EMS types there addressing this issue/question you raise.

While he's never gotten a toll free phone number and offered to make psychic predictions, I think I'd listen to the one he makes here.

stay safe.
 

kenny

Regular Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2007
Messages
635
Location
Richmond Lynchburg, Virginia, USA
Hospitals as part of their certification process must comply with the Joint Commission rules. Those rules prohibit the carrying of firearms. So what does the crew do with their firearms then? I don't see the hospitals adding lock boxes.
 

TFred

Regular Member
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Oct 13, 2008
Messages
7,750
Location
Most historic town in, Virginia, USA
Hospitals as part of their certification process must comply with the Joint Commission rules. Those rules prohibit the carrying of firearms. So what does the crew do with their firearms then? I don't see the hospitals adding lock boxes.
Given this point and the fact that every local body can make their own rules anyway, this is probably one of the most pointless changes we've seen come along in quite some time.

Not to say it's not worth changing
, it's just not going to accomplish anything tangible at this point.

TFred
 

ProShooter

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Mar 23, 2008
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www.ProactiveShooters.com, Richmond, Va., , USA
As someone who "rode the bus" for 6 years as an EMT-A in NJ, I'm all for it. I left my comment.

Funny related story....

I was also a volunteer firefighter/heavy rescue guy for 8 years. When I was first on the job in NJ, I worked night shift and would routinely be the only fire officer (Lieutenant) around during the day. One time, my pager went off for a fire alarm. I responded in with the engine, and later when I took my coat off, the Fire Chief (who was from a rival company) saw my Sig P239 tucked into my bunker pants. He tried to tell me that I couldn't carry my gun in a "fire scene". I told him that as a sworn officer, I could tote my pistol wherever the hell I damn well pleased, and he could call the Attorney General if he wanted to complain. Every cop carried their gun...everywhere. We had a college in town that was pretty rough. When we had calls there, we would station a rookie with the engine, and with an axe in his hands to keep the stuff from being stolen off the truck.
 

skidmark

Campaign Veteran
Joined
Jan 15, 2007
Messages
10,444
Location
Valhalla
Given this point and the fact that every local body can make their own rules anyway, this is probably one of the most pointless changes we've seen come along in quite some time.

Not to say it's not worth changing
, it's just not going to accomplish anything tangible at this point.

TFred

This! If nothing else it is one small step closer to state agency preemption. For that we should support it.

stay safe.
 
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