My fishin buddy here in S. Florida is a Fla Licensed Security Officer (don't call him a guard) additionally he underwent 40 hours of training to earn a "G" license (at great expense to himself and not his company) which authorizes him to carry, exposed, a loaded weapon ONLY while on watch at the jobsight, not authorized to wear exposed while traveling to and from
the job. The only weapon authorized by Fla law is a .38spl, 4"revolver stoked with FMJ only, no JHP's allowed. He has to requal every year at his own expense. This man is assigned to duty solo in areas that the Sheriff's deputies have told him they only go into in pairs, he guards banks, construction sites and believe it or not, grocery stores in the "bad" part of town. All this and only armed with a .38, no mace, no batons allowed. He is totally out gunned by just about anyone he comes in contact with. He works for a well known international security agency who supply him only with uniforms and an old Taurus .38. If he wants body armour, he has to buy it himself. You have to know this man to understand why he does what he does for $10 an hour, he is a thrill seeker who thrives on risk and danger, better him than me.
My point here is that states need to recognize that highly trained security officers (don't call them guards) go into some pretty seedy areas and watch over some places that LEOs avoid. They should be trained with and allowed to carry semi auto weapons of at least .40 cal.
My freind carries a Glock 33 .357sig in a very expensive ankle holster as a BUG to his .38. If his company found out, he'd be fired. If the SHTF and he pops a cap on someone with the Glock, he will probably go to jail. But like he says he'd rather be tried by twelve than carried by six.
My personal hat is off to all private security officers (don't call them guards) who go into harms way to provide a service for meeger wages. Something needs to be done to help these guys.