Business owners want to protect their assets and keep their employees safe, but they don’t always know which type of security guard is right for their business. Armed or unarmed? Private or public? You might be wondering: What is the difference between unarmed and armed security guards? Armed Security Guards have weapons and ammunition on them at all times. Unarmed Security Guards are not armed but may carry pepper spray or other non-lethal weapons such as batons or Tasers (a stun gun).
When it comes to choosing the right kind of security guard for your needs, many factors should be considered before making any decision.
This article will discuss how armed vs. unarmed security guards work and why one might be more effective than the other for protecting your business.
Unarmed is all you need
Unarmed security guards provide a great alternative to armed security guards. They are affordable and effective, with the added benefit of being trained to detect suspicious activity and respond accordingly. These can include responding to an emergency or even just stopping someone from entering your building if they look like they might be up to no good.
Armed security guards cost more than unarmed ones, but this cost difference is typically offset by the fact that armed guards require more training than their unarmed counterparts (and therefore pay for themselves over time).
Unarmed security guards are often used at small businesses and other commercial establishments with a low risk of theft or vandalism. Because they’re unarmed, they don’t carry weapons like guns. Instead, they rely on their appearance and physical strength to keep potential intruders out of buildings and away from valuable assets.
Armed security guards are used at high-risk locations like banks and shopping malls, where there’s more likelihood of theft or vandalism than smaller businesses. They also work at airports, military bases, schools, colleges and universities, museums, government buildings such as courthouses and post offices, hotels/resorts/motels/casinos, shopping malls, warehouses, etc.!
Armed guards protect higher-risk areas.
Armed guards protect higher-risk areas. Armed security guards are more likely to be hired for high-risk locations such as banks, jewelry stores, museums, concerts, and sporting events. This can be because many companies that use armed security services have their own armed forces that they use as backup when an event occurs at night or during inclement weather conditions (such as snow).
- A 24-hour security schedule may require armed coverage.
- Armed security guards have a gun, while unarmed security guards do not.
- Armed security guards are trained in self-defence techniques to help them defend themselves and others from attackers, while unarmed security guards cannot.
- Armed security guards have more experience than unarmed ones, which makes them better able to handle situations that may arise at your business.
- Unaided businesses may still want to hire armed guards for some situations, but it is best to get a trained professional who can handle any situation that arises with ease.
- If your business deals in large amounts of cash or expensive merchandise, you’ll want to consider armed security. This is especially true if you work with public officials or celebrities. In those cases, it’s not uncommon for people to try to steal from the facility—especially when they know that armed guards are on hand 24/7.
Security officers are quick on their feet, not with a gun.
Security officers are trained to handle a variety of situations. They are trained to deal with people calmly and remain calm under pressure. They’re also trained to be observant and aware of their surroundings—all things that make you feel safer around them!
A security guard on patrol can act as a first responder if an accident occurs on-site. Still, if your business deals large amounts of cash or expensive merchandise, an armed security guard may be necessary for that extra level of protection.
Security guards are trained to handle a variety of situations, but armed security guards are trained to handle high-risk situations. The training process for armed security guards typically includes:
- Awareness and communication skills
- Confidence building exercises
- Safety in numbers (the ability to react quickly and effectively when several people are working together)
- Providing armed security for public officials or celebrities may also require armed coverage.
Armed security guards are also a good idea if you have a lot of money or expensive merchandise. Armed security may be necessary if your company has a lot of cash, or if your products are expensive and can easily be stolen.
Make sure you have the right kind of protection for your needs. You can’t just hire anyone. You need to ensure you’re getting the right protection for your needs.
Final thoughts
Security guards are essential to the security industry, but picking the right one can be tricky. If you’re looking for an armed guard, you need to make sure that your needs are being met by the guard and not just his weapon.
If you want a guard who will be unarmed, then there are some things that you should look for in order to ensure that it’s worth it for your company.
You’ll want them to be well trained and knowledgeable about what they’re doing so that no matter how much training they’ve had or even if they’ve been doing this job for years, they’ll still know how to handle themselves when things get tense.
As you can see, armed security guards are not the only way to protect your business. Unarmed security can also offer an effective level of protection, and sometimes it’s all you need. If you’re looking for more information about how armed or unarmed security guards can help your business, contact us today!