Unarmed Private Security is a Total Farce

There was a time when businesses were safer, and hiring security meant hiring professionals who were armed and ready to protect. Nowhere was this more evident than in Las Vegas, a city that once prided itself on virtually no armed robberies. The reason? Armed security guards were there to ensure safety. But those days are gone. Now, thanks to corporate cowardice and misplaced priorities, Las Vegas has suffered numerous bloodbaths. Why? Because they disarmed their security guards. It seems the powers that be would rather watch tourists bleed out than allow trained professionals to carry firearms.

This catastrophic shift began in the 1980s when corporations nationwide started disarming their security forces. This wasn’t about safety or logic—it was about money and the personal phobias of so-called “bean counters.” These decision-makers, often terrified of firearms themselves, let their fears dictate policy. They convinced themselves that a disarmed security force was somehow safer or more cost-effective. In reality, all they accomplished was turning once-competent security teams into glorified scarecrows.

And it’s even worse today. Not only are guards unarmed, but corporate policies actively discourage them from doing their jobs. They’re told not to interfere with shoplifters, not to stop armed robbers, and not to put themselves “at risk.” This leaves security guards as little more than decoration—standing by, powerless, as crime runs rampant.

Let’s be blunt: Unarmed security is completely worthless. What’s the point of hiring someone who isn’t equipped to prevent or stop crime? An unarmed security guard can’t defend your business, your employees, or your customers. At best, they’re just another target—an extra hostage or victim when things go wrong.

Sure, some people argue that these guards serve a purpose because they can call the police. But let’s face the facts: Police response times in any major city for serious felonies are usually 15 to 20 minutes, and for anything less urgent, you’re lucky if they show up within an hour. By the time help arrives, the damage is already done. A call to the police isn’t protection; it’s cleanup.

So why does this madness persist? It comes back to the bean counters—the same individuals who fear the sight of a gun as much as the criminals themselves. Their personal aversions to firearms have left businesses vulnerable, customers unsafe, and employees helpless. Instead of making rational, effective decisions, they’ve let their own phobias dictate policy, and everyone else pays the price.

Here’s the harsh truth: If your security guards aren’t armed, they aren’t security. They’re just warm bodies standing in the way of danger. The solution is clear. Train security guards properly. Arm them. Equip them to actually do the job they were hired for. Otherwise, stop pretending. Because an unarmed guard isn’t a protector—they’re just another casualty waiting to happen. And that’s a risk no business should take.