New Armed Guard Permit Applications Will Require A Psychological Exam Starting 01/01/2018

 In armed security, security

Starting 01/01/2018 all new applicants for security officer firearms permits will have to undergo an added step, a psychological examination. The cost is borne by the applicant and add another barrier to entry into a job that often does not pay extremely well. The intent of the law is great, in practical application… not so much.

California already required each armed guard to shoot 50 rounds of each caliber permitted twice a year. Say the officer has four calibers listed on their permit. Four calibers at 50 rounds each, 200 rounds total. Add range costs, instructor costs, and supplies… you can easily spend $200.00 just to qualify each time, twice a year.

Making better security officers is great. Breaking their wallet to do so, not so much. California has killed many more cost effective training means and this is yet another. It’s already burdensome to spend $500 or so just to get your armed certification, after often waiting six plus months to actually receive your permit and get to work. Now we must add another couple hundred dollars to the cost? I’m sure this will do anything but speed up the process as well.

What if the psychologist does not approve of firearms in general? or just does not like the idea of this person carrying a firearm? What if the applicant passes with flying colors and then goes crazy? Who will we blame at that point.

What are your thoughts? Comment below.

http://www.bsis.ca.gov/about_us/sb1196.pdf

 

 

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Showing 11 comments
  • Manned Guarding
    Reply

    Very interesting post. Thank you for giving me good insight into the future of armed security.

  • Karen
    Reply

    We already get paid minimum wage to protect lives, clients property, put up with attitude, pay for ALL our own equipment, use our own behicle, gas, wear and tear on cars, insurance, etc..
    So after all that we are being paid maybe $4.00 an hour.
    Really? We NEED A UNION. And be paid for Our EXPERIENCE and worth of our position. Now they think We need a psych eval.. what about the everyday john doe buying guns, the crime and gangs and protection just bcuz are they going to pay for a psych eval? Doubtful..

    • Axiom
      Reply

      Hi Karen – We agree that minimum wage is unacceptable. Minimum wage = minimum effort. We never work with clients that refuse to pay a rate that allows us to pay above minimum wage. Also providing all necessary equipment for our employees is something we always do. Requiring employees to use their own vehicles or purchase their own equipment without compensation is unacceptable and brings employers to some serious liability.

      Unfortunately California is a state that believes good intentions trump logic.

  • Nace R Benveniste
    Reply

    really we don’t make much money now as it is . in the first place you have to pass a back ground check just to get a gun now this . i feel this is a little to much..

  • Badge #335
    Reply

    I have had my exposed firearms permit for 2 years now. I’m a sole provider and am going through a divorce. I’ve been working so hard to put a roof over my children’s heads, giving my family a place to sleep, and food on everyone’s plates, I even forgot about my final requal of the 2 year span. I did the requal on the day before my permit expired and mailed it in via UPS the same day. I also have a POST certification for reserve police. With my integrity and honesty, I told my Sargent and Captain that my firearms permit had expired. I was then taken off schedule and have worked very little since. Now I am finding out that if BSIS is unable to process my paperwork due to timeframe, I would have to restart the process all over again. I remember when I first took the firearms course, I cost me roughly just over $500. With the $500-$550 all over again plus the cost of Psych Eval requirement, I’m not sure if the Armed Security Officer job is even worth it anymore. The pay is not so much, I only qualify for a low income housing rental. I was told before by the hiring Sgt. and LT. with a few Police Departments, that with the divorce I’m going through it would be almost impossible for me to become a police officer.

    • Axiom
      Reply

      One positive thing, BSIS delayed the implementation of the psych evaluation. Their memo says “Under the new law, the assessment will begin on a date to be determined by the Bureau but no later than July 1, 2018.”

      The whole process is burdensom and is often cost prohibitive. Asking someone in, what is generally a low wage job to pay $500+/- plus equipment and wait for a permit that may take up to six-months… is a barrier to entry.

      This state likes to make it harder and harder to earn a living.

  • Adam
    Reply

    What is the cost for the exam and when is the delay of enforcement up to?

    • Axiom
      Reply

      Per BSIS email:

      Senate Bill 547 (Chapter 429, Statutes of 2017) was signed into law by Governor Brown to extend the January 1, 2018 implementation date for the new assessment. Under the new law, the assessment will begin on a date to be determined by the Bureau but no later than July 1, 2018. The Bureau is continuing its efforts to secure a third party vendor to administer the assessment. Be assured that the Bureau will issue an interested parties email when a vendor is secured as well as notify BSIS certified firearms training facilities and instructors of the start date for the assessment.

  • Osvaldo
    Reply

    Ive been a security gaurd for almost 2 years now and i want to advance in this career but is it even worth it now ? I need an opinion because i dont know anymore, i already put in a lot of money just on the gear i have . Hearing that its gonna be multiple payments on the ranges of 500 sounds like way out of line … Idk what do you guys who have been doing it think?

  • Carlos Martinez Jr
    Reply

    Well I think it’s ridiculously that the state is going to go through this for us security guard that want to actually be armed like myself which is going through process of getting my exposes permit. Even though I barely purchase my firearm and still no money to take the firearm course with my company, then take a DH1
    ( Defense handgun training course) which definitely is a make/ break it if you actually carry for the company. Which is understandable for liability policy and procedures. It would be harder and harder for the person who wants to be armed to get any experience under their belts if they want to move forward with a career in law enforcement. With going through all these hoops. Like some of the comments here it’s actually worth still? When knowing your not getting paid as if you were living in Bay area rather living in the central valley.

  • Frank Hammer
    Reply

    It is an outrage, like so many laws and regs in this state. The politicians line their pockets and bask in false glory while hard working Californians suffer the burden of Liberal propaganda and public misconception. I worked very hard to begin a new career in private security and sacrificed great sums of money to wait for state approval. Only to be told they are behind on managing the state psych evaluations, so I have to wait until Summer’s end, over three months. I will have to take any job in the meantime, dishwasher or parking cars, then quit on them when I get my open carry permit! How is this helping anyone?

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