Roy Exum: Quick! Arm Our Guards

  • Friday, November 21, 2014
  • Roy Exum
Roy Exum
Roy Exum

When I learned last Wednesday that Chattanooga’s leading hospital, in a ridiculous attempt to be more “family friendly,” planned to disarm its security guards. I was aghast but decided to wait for the proper “incident” to illustrate how stupid members of our “free thought society” can sometimes be. It took exactly one week.

A bit after midnight on Thursday morning a gunman appeared at the Strozier Library on the Florida State campus and shot three innocent people before campus police were able to respond and kill the moron. I have no doubt the library has signs on its doors that say firearms are not allowed – all colleges do. Erlanger Hospital has a similar sign on every door. My first point being that thugs don’t read signs.

We live in a terrible world, evidenced too often as our black-on-black shootings leave us on the verge of tears. Our nation is increasingly plagued with shooting incidents like the one that just rattled Florida State. I read the newspapers every day and a recent FBI study revealed that over the past five years there has been an average of 16.4 “mass shootings” in America each year and that number is climbing. That is up from 6.4 incidents for the five-year period before. Please note an alarming trend.

Of 160 “active shooter” incidents the FBI identified since 2003, 486 people have been killed and another 557 wounded. Those figures don't include the deaths or injuries of the shooters, mind you, but – my heavens – just one is more than enough. Erlanger’s Board of Trustees is flirting with the unthinkable if they, in any way, compromise the safety of the thousands who depend on the hospital as exactly what it is – a safe haven from chaos.

I’m a firm believer that legislating gun control is a folly. Millions of American gun owners are good and decent people. We are licensed to carry firearms, have taken classes to insure safety and – most of all – have never, ever, shot another human being. Sadly, the “gang bangers” and the crazies do not care about the rules, whether legal or bound by a civil society.

This is why, beyond any doubt or regardless of what the cowards might say, there has to be a level playing field. The only thing that makes a gun fight even – or fair -- is when both sides have guns. It is nice to believe a security guard dressed in a blazer and a snappy tie can talk a psychopath into turning over his weapon but, as they say on the street, “That ain’t about to happen.”

Erlanger Hospital, regardless of what those in Lincoln Park might claim, is not in a good part of town. There needs to be a far more extensive presence of security guards, most especially in the emergency room waiting room where vagrants actually hinder medical service, and roaming patrols that will assure no one – ever – is attacked again in the parking areas. Cameras need to be repaired, added, and monitored, regardless of cost, and any untoward movement must be addressed immediately. This is imperative to the safe-being of patients, employees, and anyone who steps on respected medical campus. What’s more, all deserve it.

In a personal note, I have had to visit Erlanger’s emergency room on several occasions in recent years. I go to Erlanger for one reason – as a Level 1 trauma center it is the best there is. But when I go, especially at night, I take a pistol – which I am licensed to carry – and place the loaded weapon beside me on the front seat. It is not holstered. It is cocked. I am ready and, while I do not apologize for its presence, if horror ever does occur I will defend myself and those around me.

I carry different types of guns. I have a hammerless revolver that no one can ever tell if it is in my jacket or my hip pocket. But if I am knowingly venturing into a questionable area, I have another weapon – that is what it truly is – and it is a “one-and-done” variety. If I happen to hit my assailant anywhere on his body, I am assured with confidence all the King’s horses and all the King’s men will never put Humpty Dumpty together again.

Please, this is neither braggart nor a boast. Instead, it is why right now in Ferguson, Mo., the gun dealers are doing a landslide business. In Tennessee right now there are approximately 460,530 people with “legal carry” permits. In Georgia there are another 600,000 and Florida is up to 1.3 million, but where the limp wrists seem to miss the point is the bad guys don’t get permits. And right now - today - in a scrubby part of East Chattanooga I can tell you the “street price” for a loaded Glock is $100, cash and carry. No permit needed. No waiting time. No background check.

Yesterday in Tallahassee, FSU police Chief David Perry had no answer for what just happened. “This person for whatever reason produced a handgun and then began shooting students in the library.” That’s all he could say. And that is stark reality.

I know Erlanger needs to save money. I know an armed guard costs more than a retired babysitter, but here is a case where the trustees need to look at what is budgeted for “safety and security,” immediately double the amount, and pray it will work. One death will be one too many and no human can justify the savings.

Deadly force, as despicable as it truly is, is the only answer in these times we live and, if it is any consolation, a trained guard who is proficient with a firearm is the greatest deterrent for a tragedy. Just look at what happened at Florida State and how it played out. It’s that simple.

royexum@aol.com

 

 

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