Pardon the title, but that's essentially what they're doing.
Down here in South Florida there has recently been a string of armed robberies at all night pharmacies and it may involve other types of businesses as well. I took note of the pharmacies because I usually pick up my meds around 2 AM because 1) I'm usually up... and 2) There's no wait
Anyways, recently with the incidents, even though I always carry, I just stopped going to the pharmacy at night - until last night when I had no choice because I was really sick and needed an Advair ASAP.
... enough backstory... I walk in, and for the first time ever, I see a security guard sitting at the front counter looking incredibly bored.
Surprised, I just had to ask, "So... out of curiosity, did they hire you because of the recent incidents?"... and of course his answer was "Yes."
So I just said, "Well that's good to know that management is at least being proactive."
... and then he says what horrified me, "Yeah, but I can't have a gun on me."
... WHAT?! "You mean you don't have a G class license?" I ask.
"That.... and I'm not 21."
WHAT?!
I ask, "Well, I assume you have SOMETHING? Surely management doesn't expect you to throw chapsticks and bottles of shampoo at a group of armed men?!"
and then the worst... "Nope. Nothing. No pepper spray, no taser, no knife."
***? That's outrageous. It's one thing to have unarmed security guards as a regular security precaution when you're NOT expecting trouble. That's bad enough (because obviously, what happens when you DO have trouble?)
It's even worse to hire an unarmed KID to guard a store specifically in response to an increased likelihood that there WILL be trouble.
That kid isn't a guard..... if anything he's going to be the first victim!
It is just so wrong to slap a badge on a kid making him a target when you're expecting trouble and leave him there as bait. I would almost argue that it should be illegal!
I didn't say anything to management because I didn't want to get this poor kid fired...
I don't want to post what store this is publicly because I worry I'd be making them even more of a target by declaring that they're defenseless on the net. However, if you're interested in the phone number of the store or the store number should you want to complain, PM me.
I'm personally writing a letter to HQ:
CVS Corporation
Corporate Headquarters
One CVS Drive
Woonsocket, RI 02895
although first I want to go to another store and see if they have the same issue.
You don't bring a knife to a gun fight... and you certainly don't send a defenseless kid into one either!
This new trend of "for show" security guards has to stop. It's everywhere. I saw it at college when I was a student (following the VT incident they didn't arm their current guards... they just added more unarmed guards :banghead... it's at stores and malls everywhere... and more. Does the media know about this? It's a disaster waiting to happen... and I'm sure plenty of incidents point to it as being a disaster that HAS happened already too.
Down here in South Florida there has recently been a string of armed robberies at all night pharmacies and it may involve other types of businesses as well. I took note of the pharmacies because I usually pick up my meds around 2 AM because 1) I'm usually up... and 2) There's no wait
Anyways, recently with the incidents, even though I always carry, I just stopped going to the pharmacy at night - until last night when I had no choice because I was really sick and needed an Advair ASAP.
... enough backstory... I walk in, and for the first time ever, I see a security guard sitting at the front counter looking incredibly bored.
Surprised, I just had to ask, "So... out of curiosity, did they hire you because of the recent incidents?"... and of course his answer was "Yes."
So I just said, "Well that's good to know that management is at least being proactive."
... and then he says what horrified me, "Yeah, but I can't have a gun on me."
... WHAT?! "You mean you don't have a G class license?" I ask.
"That.... and I'm not 21."
WHAT?!
I ask, "Well, I assume you have SOMETHING? Surely management doesn't expect you to throw chapsticks and bottles of shampoo at a group of armed men?!"
and then the worst... "Nope. Nothing. No pepper spray, no taser, no knife."
***? That's outrageous. It's one thing to have unarmed security guards as a regular security precaution when you're NOT expecting trouble. That's bad enough (because obviously, what happens when you DO have trouble?)
It's even worse to hire an unarmed KID to guard a store specifically in response to an increased likelihood that there WILL be trouble.
That kid isn't a guard..... if anything he's going to be the first victim!
It is just so wrong to slap a badge on a kid making him a target when you're expecting trouble and leave him there as bait. I would almost argue that it should be illegal!
I didn't say anything to management because I didn't want to get this poor kid fired...
I don't want to post what store this is publicly because I worry I'd be making them even more of a target by declaring that they're defenseless on the net. However, if you're interested in the phone number of the store or the store number should you want to complain, PM me.
I'm personally writing a letter to HQ:
CVS Corporation
Corporate Headquarters
One CVS Drive
Woonsocket, RI 02895
although first I want to go to another store and see if they have the same issue.
You don't bring a knife to a gun fight... and you certainly don't send a defenseless kid into one either!
This new trend of "for show" security guards has to stop. It's everywhere. I saw it at college when I was a student (following the VT incident they didn't arm their current guards... they just added more unarmed guards :banghead... it's at stores and malls everywhere... and more. Does the media know about this? It's a disaster waiting to happen... and I'm sure plenty of incidents point to it as being a disaster that HAS happened already too.