GA: Business Owner Requires Employees to be Armed

By Dean WeingartenGeorgia Business Requires Concealed Carry Permit

Dean Weingarten
Dean Weingarten

Arizona – -(Ammoland.com)-

In Georgia, a business owner has taken a pioneering step in employee relations.  He is requiring his employees to obtain a concealed carry permit and to carry guns openly in his places of business.  I have been predicting that this would happen for a while. There are so many advantages, and so few disadvantages, that it is hard to see the idea failing to be adopted all over the country.  The only refinement that seems likely, is to require job applicants to have a concealed carry permit *before* they apply. From wsoctv.com:

An Atlanta business owner with several offices in Georgia is now requiring all of his employees to get a concealed carry license and be armed.

Business owner Lance Toland said after hearing about recent home invasions and violent crime in the metro Atlanta area, he came up with the new office mandate.

“They all had their conceal carry permit within three to four weeks of me announcing that this was something you had to do,” he said. “With the presentation of their license, they all got a 410 Judge Pistol.”

It seemed likely that this would start in Wisconsin or Kansas.  In both of those states, but particularly in Wisconsin, allowing employees to carry guns gives the business a clear competitive advantage.  In Wisconsin law, if the business allows the carry of guns, the business is immune from torts that rise from an employee carrying guns in the business.  If the business does not allow guns, no immunity.  The Kansas law is similar, but not quite so clear.  The advantage in tort immunity is obvious, but there are several other advantages.  Now that Toland has broken through the wall of innovation, others see them more clearly:

Toland says several high-profile business owners who have private planes he insures may follow his lead.

“A lot of my clients are high fiving when they hear this. They think it’s the best things for a company to mandate gun ownership and be responsible,” he said.

Here are a few of the not so obvious advantages.  They have been hidden behind a smoke screen of media misinformation and stereotypes.

First, employees with a concealed carry permit are a deterrent to robbery and physical attacks on the business premises.  This may seem obvious, but you will find many who claim, without support, that it is not so.  Having more than one employee armed at a location makes it an extremely unattractive target.  There are too many variables, and too much to go wrong for any thinking robber.

Second, there is an obvious, clear screen to limit employees to a very select, high quality level.  This is where requiring a permit for application become critical.  Permit holders are self selected to be one of the most law abiding, responsible, and forward thinking groups in the nation.  Their crime rates are only a fraction of those of police officers; they are many more times as law abiding as the general population.

Third, the giving of a gun is a brilliant management move by Lance Toland.  It speaks volumes about his leadership skills.  He is boldly proclaiming to his employees that their lives are important to him.  He is whispering to them, “I trust you so much, I am putting my life and the life of others in your hands.”  A clear subtext is “We are a team.  We take care of each other.” This is the sort of thing that builds loyalty that money cannot buy.

Fourth, your employees are have shown themselves to be in a select group that puts a high value on personal responsibility and self reliance.  This is precisely the group least likely to blame you for personal failures, or to see your business as a potential source of a “liability lottery”.  They are likely to see a failure in your business as part of a personal failure on their part.  They look ahead, see problems, and do things about them.  Who does not want employees with that attitude!  In the 15 years that I taught concealed carry in Arizona, I never had a bad check.

Fifth, the state is now doing a continuous screening process for you, one that is actionable and clear.  If an employee becomes likely to have problems (according to the state, not the employer), their permit will be taken from them.  The employer then has an obvious and clear reason to dismiss the employee.  They can no longer fulfill one of the stated requirements for the job.  It is a good reason to have the employees open carry on the premises.

There are other advantages.  I leave those as an exercise for the reader.  Here is a prediction.  We will see more of this.

©2016 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.  Link to Gun Watch

 

About Dean Weingarten;

Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of constitutional carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and recently retired from the Department of Defense after a 30 year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.

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RDNK

THIS OLE BOY KNOWS WHAT TIME IT IS ! THEY NEVER HAD BUSINESSES LIKE THIS HERE WHEN I WORKED !

TEX

More businesses around the country should mandate that if you want to work for me,where we value our lives,get your license and stay armed ! If you don’t agree with that leave and work at a gun free zone area !

Terry C

Forcing an employee to get a Concealed Carry permit and then carry a gun is as unconstitutional as NOT allowing an employee to have a license and Not carry a gun. Force doesn’t solve anything. I wonder what he will do when one employee shoots another with his company-supplied gun?

TEX

Probably take them to the hospital !

gimmes0mspace

This is the most excellent business model I have read about in years. I am female and a CC permit holder. I would work for this business and be thankful for a management team that understands the America we live in today. The USA has devolved into a mass of folks that would choose a person like Trump (bully and show boater) over a Constitutional conservative like Cruz. Our Republic will be lost if Clinton or Trump win the presidency.

F.T.

Not a good idea. If my wife or daughter worked there I would not be happy. They are not combat trained gun fighters and for this guy to FORCE people to have a gun, even if its against their wishes is wrong. This guy needs a wake up call.
Its wrong and that’;s all there is to it. Its one thing if he said that you may carry at work if you wish and are lawful to do so but not to force people.

Ron

I would gladly allow my daughter or wife to work at his company!

Jim

As would I, Ron.

Glen M

I would like work there

NutherChans

I don’t care what the job is, that is one place i would gladly work at.

Archie

I agree with his process.

Shaft

I need a job there

Bob Shell

That is a great idea. That will eliminate all of the undesirables because with a police record they can’t get a permit. My only question is training made available to the employees. There should be plenty of training for them so various situations and accidents can be avoided.

Yes a great idea & I hope that it spreads.

Harry

Thumbs up from Ohio!!!

Jim

What is his business?