Through an
exclusive arrangement with Gatekeepers Security
Services, LLC, a licensed Texas security company,
several Texas churches are officially meeting the state
requirements for volunteer armed plain-clothed security
officers in their churches.
Gatekeepers
Security Services, LLC provides churches throughout
Texas with private security services. In fact, Churches
are their only business. Chuck Chadwick, President of
Gatekeepers has found a unique solution to the high cost
of traditional armed security personnel.
"There is a
great deal of misinformation out there when it comes to
using a person's Texas Concealed Handgun License (CHL)
to be part of an armed security team." Says Chuck
Chadwick, President of Gatekeepers.
The Texas
Department of Public Safety - Private Security Bureau as
ruled specifically on this issue at our request. The
actual ruling/opinion can be found at:
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/psb/psb_opin_sum.htm
under
Church Volunteer Security Patrol
Specifically:
Church Volunteer Security Patrol May
10, 2007
A volunteer security patrol made up of church members
would generally require licensing under the provisions
of Section 1702.108 or 1702.222, regardless of whether
any compensation is received as a result of the
activities. The only exception to licensing provided by
the legislature for nonprofit and civic organizations is
found in Section 1702.327, which applies specifically to
nonprofit and civic organizations that employ peace
officers under certain circumstances and would not be
applicable here.
However, there is one exception to licensing under
Chapter 1702 provided by the legislature that could
arguably apply, which can be found in section 1702.323
("Security Department of Private Business"). This
exception would allow volunteers to provide security
services exclusively for one church, as long
as they do not carry firearms and as long as they do
not wear "a uniform with any type of badge commonly
associated with security personnel or law enforcement or
a patch or apparel with 'security' on the patch or
apparel." See TEX. OCC. CODE §1702.323(a) &
(d)(2). Thus, the wearing of a uniform or any apparel
containing the word "security" would subject them to the
licensing requirements of the act.
The ONLY way
to carry a firearm as a part of a concerted security
effort in Texas is to be either an Active Law
Enforcement officer or a licensed Texas Department of
Public Safety - Private Commissioned Security Officer or
a Personal Protection Officer working under contract to
the church by a Registered, Licensed and Insured
Security Services company. To do so without the required
licensing, coverage and contract constitutes a class "A"
misdemeanor punishable by $10,000 fine and a year in
state prison.
"Our program
meets and exceeds the state laws pertaining to Private
Security. The program was designed to save the churches
roughly two thirds of the cost of hiring traditional
private security or law enforcement." Says Chadwick.
"When it come to guys with guns, there is no free lunch.
A church has to come to grips with this issue."
We are also in
talks with churches South Carolina and Oklahoma about
the program expansion.
For further program details and how your church can get
"Legal" contact Chuck Chadwick @ (972) 712-8818 or email
chuck@gatekeeperssecurity.com.
or
http://www.gatekeeperssecurity.com
