Police, Firefighters Urge Support For Bill To Arm Tactical Medics

The Gongwer News Service is reporting that police and emergency medical personnel told a House committee this week that a pending bill (HB 529) to arm tactical medical responders would enable them to better protect victims and themselves. Those testifying were met with objections from Rep. John Boccieri (D-Alliance).

From the article:

The representative's sticking point is language granting those professionals while on duty "the same right to carry a concealed handgun in this state as a person who was issued a concealed handgun license."

He also questioned language exempting such tactical medical professionals from potential civil or criminal liability "for any conduct occurring while carrying the firearm or firearms to the same extent as a law enforcement officer...has such protection."

"That's a huge stretch in my opinion," Rep. Boccieri said.

"We're not looking for immunity," Central Fire District Lt. Jon Via replied. "I think you're confusing liability with a get out of jail free card and that's not what this is."

"I would just argue that is a big responsibility," Rep. Boccieri answered. "To go into a school with a loaded gun and be involved in a gun battle, I just don't want to haphazardly give that ability to someone."

According to the article, witnesses disputed Boccieri's objection, saying the measure would train those professionals in the same was law enforcement officers are trained in firearm use.

The bill calls for those individuals to receive 60 hours of firearms training including a minimum of 46 hours of live-fire training in a firing range. He or she must also pass the 25-round student performance objectives component of peace officer basic training and fire a minimum of 750 handgun rounds, 75 pelleted shotgun rounds, and 20 rounds of shotgun slugs.

"The CCW part allows for firefighter while on duty to have weapon concealed on their person and enter into those premises without ramifications of breaking the law," Mansfield firefighter Samuel Stahlke testified in response to Rep. Boccieri. "It doesn't state you can go with just a CCW and go on the SWAT team and not do any further training."

Again, from the article:

The legislation would enable medics to enter a "hot zone," such as the scene of an active shooter, rather than be forced to wait outside until the shooter is found while victims die inside the scene.

Mr. Via said a recent active shooter drill in his district took 19 minutes for officers to secure the scene and disable the active shooter. That's because the small department only has a handful of officers on duty on any given day to service three schools.

The average time for a gunshot victim to bleed out is between five and 10 minutes, he said. The bill, he said, would enable medics to enter the scene to locate and treat victims as law enforcement officers continue their search for the shooter.

Others testifying in favor of the bill included Alliance Police Department Special Response Team Commander Joe Weyer, Mansfield firefighter William Fiala and firefighter John Hagan Jr.

Chad D. Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Association Secretary, BFA PAC Vice Chairman, and an NRA-certified firearms instructor. He is the editor of BuckeyeFirearms.org, which received the Outdoor Writers of Ohio 2013 Supporting Member Award for Best Website.