The decision by the owner of a small insurance company to require his employees to carry firearms at the office has sparked a debate: Would having a gun on the job make you safer, or is it inviting violence into the workplace?
Lance Toland said his three offices, based at small airports in Georgia, haven’t had problems with crime but “anyone can slip in these days if they want to. I don’t have a social agenda here. I have a safety agenda.”
When a longtime employee, a National Rifle Association-certified instructor who’s been the company’s unofficial security officer announced her retirement, Toland wanted to ensure the remaining employees were safe. He now requires each of them to get a concealed-carry permit, footing the $65 bill, and undergo training. He issues a Taurus revolver known as “The Judge” to each of them. The firearm holds five rounds, .410 shells that cast a spray of pellets like a shotgun.
“It is a weapon, and it is a lethal weapon,” said Toland, whose company specializes in aviation insurance. “When a perpetrator comes into the home or the office, they have started a fire. And this is a fire extinguisher.”
No employee balked at the mandate, he said. “They all embraced it 100 percent, and they said, you know, I’m tired of being afraid,” Toland said.
An employer’s legal standing to impose such a requirement depends on several factors, foremost whether the business is high risk, a convenience store or taxi company, for example, said Carin Burford, a labor lawyer in Birmingham, Alabama.
More than 400 people on average are killed in the workplace each year, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Just last week, a gunman with a criminal record who had just been served with an order to stay away from his former girlfriend began a shooting spree, eventually landing at the lawn mower parts factory where he worked. Authorities say he killed three people and wounded 14 others before a police officer shot and killed him.
About half of U.S. states have laws allowing people to keep firearms in their cars at work. There are companies that allow employees to bring firearms to the office. But it’s rare to hear of an employer making it a requirement. Kevin Michalowski, executive editor of Concealed Carry Magazine, said he hasn’t heard of any companies issuing a mandate, but he’s increasingly hearing from companies, churches and schools seeking training so they’re prepared to deal with a workplace shooting.
He said while workplace shootings don’t happen every day, when they do happen, people should have the ability to protect themselves — particularly before police are able to respond.
“The gun-free-zone sign isn’t going to stop anyone. In fact, it makes people more vulnerable,” said Michalowski, who is a part-time officer in Wisconsin for a county sheriff’s department and a rural police department. “The good people who could stop things are disarmed.”
One person who isn’t convinced is Charles G. Ehrlich, an attorney in California. He was working for the Pettit & Martin law firm in California on July 1, 1993, when Gian Luigi Ferri, a failed entrepreneur and former client of the firm, arrived at the high-rise office building with multiple weapons, killing eight people and injuring six before killing himself.
Ehrlich was lucky. A meeting he was attending went long, and he didn’t end up down the hall in a conference room that was Ferri’s first target. “I heard the shouting and the noise” but had just moments earlier left the floor.
“It’s not like it is on TV or at the movies where the good guy just shoots the bad guy,” said Ehrlich, the former president of the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. “It’s very difficult to shoot a gun accurately, even when you’re not under pressure.”
Ehrlich also worries about the pressure cooker that exists in many workplaces — and that arming more employees might actually lead to more workplace shootings.
“Conceivably, someone who was well-trained — an ex-Green Beret or something like that — could’ve run down the hall, pulled out a weapon and fired a shot,” he said of the shooting at the firm. “But would he have prevented anyone from being killed? No. Unlike John Wayne who is always faster than the other guy, this guy got off the elevator and just started shooting.” Playing in the back of Toland’s mind was something personal: A beloved uncle who had adopted him as a child was killed in 1979 during a nighttime robbery at the convenience store where he worked. Three men robbed him of less than $100. It was the first day he hadn’t brought a firearm to the store.
Andrea Van Buren, an agent with Toland’s firm for the past two months, was already comfortable with firearms. She carried a Glock nearly every day for the past decade and practices at a range every week.
When she hears about workplace shootings elsewhere, among her first thoughts is: “I’m glad it’s not happening here and then the second part is, it could happen here, and then I think, at least I’m prepared,” she said. “It’s sad. It’s heartbreaking.”
The revolver Toland is providing his employees isn’t exactly ideal for concealment. It weighs two pounds and is more than 9 inches long. By contrast, a Beretta Nano 9mm handgun is more than a third lighter and measures less than 6 inches. Van Buren said she’s not bothered by the impracticality. “I liken it to, I have an office computer and I have an office gun.”
She understands that not everyone wants to work for a company that requires having a weapon. “Gun ownership isn’t for everybody. It’s a huge responsibility,” she said. “If you’re carrying, you’ve got to be willing to use it.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Arthur Hartsock says
It’s time for more employers and employees to start thinking this way. If I lived in your neighborhood I’d do business with you on principle. With this kind of advertisement you’ll never be a headline of many slaughtered innocent people. The crazies will go elsewhere. Even they are not that crazy. Bravo! Good luck to your company and your people!
Constitutionalist says
i agree with you.
There are no amount of laws that will protect against crazy or criminal, for almost by definition, neither will care a fig for any law whatsoever.
If there are legitimate concerns that a perp may simply steal a firearm from one of the employees and use it, one possible defense would be to have fingerprint-keyed lockboxes at various strategic locations (like under desks or countertops or what-have-you) such that ONLY employees could obtain near-instant access to the firearms.
i believe that something similar should exist in virtually all churches, synagogues, even Mosques or Sikh Temples, as well – again because there’s no law that will protect against criminal or crazy.
Once the criminals get the idea that an attempted robbery is more likely to end with a bullet in them than any cash in their pockets, they’re far more likely to seek another line of work. The crazy? Not much one can do about them but to either render them incapable of harming another by getting them in custody where they can receive treatment, or just killing them.
i don’t know that i agree with the company owner compelling all employees to get CCP’s and WEAR firearms; i think it should certainly be made easy for them to accept that option and that offer, however. Anything done under compulsion is pretty-much the definition of tyranny, isn’t it? This was a principle those who founded this country were quite adamant about protecting against. i know that Virginia’s State flag shows a woman representing Liberty with her foot on the chest of a man, with the caption “Sic Semper Tyrannis,” meaning “Thus always to tyrants,” meaning that Liberty should always triumph over tyrants and tyranny.
Jim Barnard says
Why does Mr. Ehrlich think that is difficult to shoot accurately? It certainly is not. It is a natural right to defend yourself.
Guntotingranny says
Apparently, he isn’t a good shot or has never trained to shoot at a live target. Shooting 100 rounds at the range once a week is fine for accuracy on still targets, but to train for real life self defense takes more than practice at the range. Kevin Michalowski and the USCCA have training videos and have great resources on how to dry fire train using laser equipment. LASR AMMO or LASR.Com have a nice software package that works with any computer and webcam, with any laser sight or laser ammo. I have it and practice shooting in different rooms, lighting and scenarios in my own home. You need to know how to take cover and how to get to your exit strategy and this should be practiced just like a fire drill!
Mike says
Great gun choice the employer made. Better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6. .45 and/or 410 I need to check it out.
Eloit Ness says
Hard to be accurate? When I was in the military; introduced to the firing range, the first shot missed the target. After the drill instructor corrected my stance, hand and arm positioning the next shot was dead center.
Constitutionalist says
Eloit-
Technically, he has a point. Even when no one is shooting back at you(like at a firing range) it’s hard to be accurate. Add fear, adrenaline, and urgency to the situation, then you have the ingredients for a disaster instead of heroism.
That’s why any and every firearm carrier should take upon themselves to train, and regularly. This, IMO, was the reason for a “well-regulated militia being necessary for the security of a free state” line in the 2nd. The writers of the 2nd in NO WAY meant that Federal gov’t agents should have it in their power to control the People – just the 180 degree opposite, in fact, as these 2 citations should demonstrate clearly:
“Who are the militia, if they be not the people of this country…? I ask, who are the militia? They consist of now of the whole people, except a few public officers.”
– – George Mason(1725-1792), drafted the Virginia Declaration of Rights, ally of James Madison and George Washington.
Source: in the Virginia Convention on the ratification of the Constitution, June 16, 1788, in Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution, Jonathan Elliot, ed., v.3 p.425 (Philadelphia, 1836)
“Under every government, the dernier [Fr. last, or final] resort of the people, is an appeal to the sword; whether to defend themselves against the open attacks of a foreign enemy, or to check the insidious encroachments of domestic foes. Whenever a people…entrust the defence of their country to a regular, standing army, composed of mercenaries, the power of that country will remain under the direction of the most wealthy citizens.”
— A Framer, Anonymous ‘framer’ of the US Constitution
Source: Independent Gazetteer, January 29, 1791
Rick G. says
Remember – when seconds count, the police are just minutes away.
Tired of corporate crap says
THAT IDIOT CALLS HIMSELF A LAWYER…..UNBELIEVABLE .. How many might have been saved if they had been armed when he opened fire ..a lot more that were i’ll guarrenteee!!!
Constitutionalist says
“i carry a gun because a cop’s too heavy.”
“Never get in a fight with an old man; he doesn’t have time to screw around with fighting, so he’ll just kill ya.”
One of my favorite gun stories:
A man was awakened by some metallic banging in his backyard one morning around 2:30AM; he peered out his window and could make out a flashlight bobbing around in his shed. He called 911 to report the attempted burglary, and was told that the police were “too busy” to come out, and to let the burglars take what they wanted. So he hung up. About 10 minutes later, he called them back: “Do you remember me? i called about 10 minutes ago to report that i had a couple of burglars in my shed. Well, i just shot ’em.” Then, he hung up.
Inside of 5 minutes, there were about 7 cop cars, light-a-blazin’, that showed up, arrested the 2 burglars, and put ’em in the back of a couple of patrol cars.
One of the cops said, “Hey! i thought you said you shot these guys!”
The homeowner replied, “Hey! i thought you said you were too busy to come out!”
Nellie says
Good one! My friends who are Dep keep me laughing with all the crazy calls. Great Sheriff Dep.
Robert Pryor says
I look forward to reading your newsletter.
Thanks!!!
jeff says
The best offense is all ways a good defense. If you are carrying you are covered. The cops still five to 30 minutes away.
Nellie says
I believe every business and schools people should have a right to carry
If one person had a concealed weapon in San Bernardino terrors attack or these two terrors were not taken off terrors list THIS wouldn’t have happened
Why didn’t the FBI have an undercover officer in that office? Obama! HILLARY on Libya murders. What’s does it matter? No more refugees!