By Michael Morse
I do a lot of reading, and lately a similar theme keeps rearing its ugly head: arming firefighters and EMTs. I cringe whenever I see a headline such as, “Firefighters Shot,” “EMS Crew Stabbed,” “Paramedic Assaulted,” or “Police Officer Killed,” and every combination of those imaginable and wonder what we can do to stop our people from getting hurt. Best I can figure is to stay alert, be aware of our surroundings, and call for help before it’s needed. Even then, sometimes everything we do isn’t enough.
I do not want a gun. It’s not that I don’t like guns, because I do. They are fascinating, beautiful tools, finely crafted, precise, and a true marvel of engineering. They are great things, and, in the right hands, are capable of doing a lot of great things.
But carrying one at work? Quite simply, my effectiveness as an EMT, Firefighter, First Responder, Incident Commander, Haz-Mat Technician, Ice Rescue, Water Rescue, Stuck Between Building Rescue, Trench Rescue, Peacemaker, Communicator, Negotiator, Therapist, Father, Brother, Mother, Friend, or whatever the call brings with it will be compromised the second I add a firearm to my belt.
No matter how much or little it weighs, a gun is heavy. I’m already carrying just about all I can on a call, physically and mentally; the added weight of responsibility that a gun carries is just too much to bear. My part in the public safety world is difficult enough and a constant challenge. I need to trust that the other parts of the public safety puzzle are not overburdened. The police have the guns. They train with them, take care of them, and bear the weight of responsibility that comes with them.
As with anything, there are exceptions. Fire/EMS crews in rural areas who are not responding to dozens of calls every shift, a large percentage of which involve violent people, have the luxury of wearing two or more hats and wearing them well. I’ve read accounts of volunteer firefighters who are paid police officers and of firefighters who are also deputies. They carry weapons because they are the law and the firefighters.
Good for them.
As for me? I’m no stranger to gunfire. Thankfully, nobody is shooting at me. I have wrestled my share of uncooperative people, been in fear for my life many times, been certain I would die once, and seen partners attacked and disabled by combative patients, and not once would carrying a firearm have done any good.
I cannot begin to imagine the trouble that would have been caused had I been carrying, and my sidearm was visible while doing CPR on a gunshot victim in front of his friends. It’s tough keeping a hand on your weapon while both hands are busy.
Guns themselves are okay, but on an EMS rig they are far more trouble than they are worth.
Michael Morse is a former captain with the Providence (RI) Fire Department, author, and popular columnist. His books, Rescuing Providence and Responding, are considered must-reads for people interested in EMS and the fire service. His latest book, Mr. Wilson Makes it Home, was published in February 2015.