Hospitals. Dangerous place.

We have two hospitals in our area. The one I visit most is always expanding... as a matter of fact, they added a complete staff of hospital police. Apparently, they have jurisdiction over the local police. Apparently, the hospital is privately owned so their officers have authority over the local PD when things happen on their property. A co-worker's husband just got a job working security at this hospital... they wear vests, carry Glock 19s as well as handcuffs, a baton and a bottle of pepper spray. I found it interesting that the hospital is posted and the guards are armed... but that the guards have been informed that they are NOT to ever pull their weapons out of their holsters. Withdrawing a weapon from its holster is an automatic dismissal. :crazy:

Make the hospital a Criminal Protection Zone and cripple your security force... great. Maybe its time to start using the "other" hospital for my medical emergencies. :thinking:

Hospitals are dangerous? No kidding! More people die in them than all other places combined!:biglaugh:

Seriously though, from a self defense perspective, they are dangerous indeed. In 20yrs as a rehab nurse, my mom saw her hospital go from doors always open, retirees as security and female nurses walking across unlit parking lots in the wee hrs of the morning... to... Doors locked down 24/7, armed 20-somethings with an armory on site, parking lots lit up like the Vegas strip and all staff escorted to their vehicles. They eventually had gang related violence on a weekly basis and four fatal shootings in her last 5yrs. And this was in the serene and conservative city of Salt Lake.

When I took my CHL class many years ago, there were three nurses and a physician in the class. Asked why such a dramatic turnout from the medical profession, I was told they were scared due to three incidences of gun violence in their hospital within a month. This was in the small city of Roanoke, VA.

The range where my class was taught, was sort of a Country Club for me and my friends. We were invariably there, socializing, telling tall tales and comparing latest aquisitions, when the Saturday AM CHL class arrived. Many of the atendees were dressed in scrubs. The instructor told us that medical professionals were by far the highest percentage of his students.

Our local hospital is not posted. My physicians office is located inside and she and her staff are finally over the shock of seeing my 1911 laying on the chair when I have to disrobe for an exam.

Hospitals. Dangerous place.

Wow, talk about deja-vu! I had to run to a city hospital ER last night (injured relative) and could not believe the zoo I walked into!

Hospitals here are off limits for carry and posted as such. Entered ER and immediately stopped by 4 (armed) security guards. Empty pockets, go through metal detector, retrieve possessions, and THEN you can approach the check-in desk. While waiting among the other 120 people there, we witnessed a group of at least 6 rather obnoxious individuals creating a scene and being escorted out of the building by 2 of the guards. Meanwhile the other 2 guards were dealing with a couple more of these animals who were unrelated to the first group, who were also causing problems in the ER.

HAD to be a full moon out last night..... :hairpull: