Are Most Emergency Management Professionals Trained to Carry Firearms?

Colleges and universities offer emergency management degree programs for those who want to work in public service fields and help the general public during an emergency situation. Many of the students who enroll in these programs either work for law enforcement or the fire department or want to work for one of those departments. They can also work for the state, local or federal government and help government departments plan for emergency situations and learn what to do when an emergency happens. The professionals working in this field generally do not receive any firearms training before going to work.

Types of Classes

Emergency management degree programs are available at the undergrad and graduate levels. Undergrad programs typically feature courses like emergency services leadership, planning for emergency management and emergency administration. The leadership class teaches students how to take control of a situation and what to do to take on a leadership position. Classes on planning cover all the unexpected things that might occur and teach students how to plan in advance for emergency situations. Administration classes go over some of the jobs in this field and what these professionals do. Most programs do not offer any type of firearm training.

Concealed Carry Permits

Those working in the emergency management field may have the option to carry a weapon, but those professionals will need to obtain concealed carry permits first. Though states have different requirements for those who want one of these permits, applicants generally need to pass a background check and not have any felony convictions on their records. They may need to take a gun training class and pass a gun safety exam too. The United States House of Representatives passed legislature in 2017 that allows people to apply for concealed carry permits that let them carry weapons in all 50 states, which allows emergency management professionals to carry weapons to any job site.

Benefits of Training

Though colleges and universities do not offer firearms training, many employers ask workers to go through this type of training before working in the emergency management field. This gives workers the chance to learn more about gun safety and learn how to operate a weapon in the right way. Workers may need to pass a class or take a pass and exam and also demonstrate their skills on a gun range. Proper firearms training also allows workers to defend themselves and others in an emergency situation.

Possible Issues

Possible issues can arise when emergency management professionals view a situation in the wrong way. They may reach for a weapon to stop someone suspected of terrorist activity when that individual did nothing wrong. It can also create a panic among those involved in the situation. Seeing someone with a weapon can lead to others running away and making the situation worse, and they may even call the police on the professional trying to calm down the situation. There is also a risk that the professionals may forget the firearm training that they went through or that they may not keep their guns cleaned, which can result in misfires and other problems.

Another worthy resource: Top 20 Emergency Management Degree Online Programs

Police officers and others working in law enforcement go through firearms training to ensure that they can handle these weapons. Though emergency management degree programs offer a number of great classes, the programs do not offer firearms training for future professionals.