Columbia considers change to armed guard security requirements
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Columbia City Council is considering a change to the requirements for applicants seeking an armed guard license, but there's concern it may make the city vulnerable to lawsuits.
Columbia may make a change to the rules, so that security guard applications are handled through the city's police department. It will be discussed at Monday's city council meeting.
The application requirements right now are through the Business License Supervisor. Applicants are required to submit fingerprints and a photograph through an approved law enforcement agency. But, if the changes are approved, the new system would require a Missouri Concealed Carry Permit through the Missouri Sheriff's Association.
The city is concerned that handling the security guard applications through the police department would open them up to possible lawsuits.
In 2018, Signal 88 security guard Robert Moses faced a lawsuit from the family of Anthony Warren, who tragically lost his life after being shot by Moses at a Waffle House.
The lawsuit targeted Moses for negligence and Signal 88 for allegedly "creating an unreasonable risk of harm to others" by employing Moses. It was revealed that Moses had not passed his firearm test on four separate occasions.
To qualify for a Missouri Concealed Carry Permit, applicants must adhere to similar criteria, including meeting the state's firearm safety training standards.
A crucial aspect of the Concealed Carry Permit involves completing firearm safety training from a certified instructor. This training should include at least one hour of instruction recognized by the National Rifle Association (NRA), and an eight-hour firearms safety course. Successfully completing this training results in the issuance of a Firearms Safety Completion Certificate.
However, failure to comply with the directives of the qualified firearms instructor, handling a firearm in a manner deemed dangerous by the instructor, or inability to hit the silhouette portion of targets with at least fifteen rounds during the live-fire testing segment may lead to disqualification from obtaining the permit.
City ordinances does not have restrictions on the amount of attempts for either the written or shooting components of the licensing process. If an individual fails the written exam, they are permitted to retake it by paying a $25 fee. Similarly, for the shooting test, a repeat attempt is allowed for a fee of $10, as stipulated by the city code.
