Firearms for Close Protection: Assault Rifles, Carbines & Sub-Machine Guns
Do assault rifles, carbines and sub-machine guns have a place in the commercial close protection and armed security industry? Well, that depends on the environment and the laws of the area that you’re operating in. Personally, I would say their application is very limited mainly due to the legal restrictions on ownership and use.
Let’s start off with a basic definition of assault rifles, carbines, and sub-machine guns. For this article I will class an assault rifle as a military grade rifle with full-automatic fire capabilities. A carbine as a rifle with semi-automatic only fire capabilities. And a sub-machine gun as a compact firearm with an optional stock that is chambered in a pistol caliber.
Since the use of commercial security guards in Iraq and Afghanistan started after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States there has been a lot of confusion between what providing close protection duties actually entails. The circumstances and situations in Iraq and Afghanistan were unique and not something we are likely to see again in the same scale for many reasons.
Providing close protection services in general means blending in with your client and their environment and working within the laws of the area you are in. If you’re in an area where you can legally carry firearms then the chances are you will be allowed to carry pistols, shotguns and maybe pistol caliber carbines, not assault rifles chambered in 5.56mm or 7.62x39mm etc.
If you’re trying to blend in with your environment, you’re not going to be able to do so if you’re carrying an assault rifle, carbine or a shotgun. And, if you’re serious about your personal security and protecting your clients then you should understand that it’s best that people never know that you’re armed unless you are forced to use defensive tactics.
As I said, the situations in Iraq and Afghanistan were unique and don’t reflect the general application of firearms in the security and close protection industry. One of the major concerns when carrying firearms or supplying armed guards is that you’re in compliance with the local laws, which can vary greatly from country to country. In the United States the laws can vary greatly from State to State.
In most places where firearms can be used and carried for self-defense there is generally added requirements and restriction if you are providing armed security or close protection services. Usually this means the security companies and guards need to be licensed, the armed guards need to pass a firearms qualification and then only be permitted to carry specific types of firearms when on duty.
The general firearms that people are allowed to carry for self-defense in most places are pistols, and maybe security guards, including close protection personnel, being allowed shotguns. In general, the use of assault rifles is only permitted by police and government agencies. But, in some locations there are specific waivers for rifles and carbines for security personnel.
Read this full article/chapter in the book “Close Protection & Firearms” at the below links!
Books on Amazon
Close Protection & Firearms
The Application of Firearms in Close Protection & Armed Security
Kindle @ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B19S3HPQ
Paper Back @ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B1HXV5XK
