A question frequently arises as to whether an employee of a security company can obtain a permit for a handgun. In a recent case in the state of New Jersey, the police chief for the municipality granted the petitioner’s application to renew his permit to carry a handgun. Subsequently, a law division judge denied the application. The petitioner then appealed to the New Jersey Supreme Court from the judge’s order.
In the case, the petitioner filed his renewal application for a permit to carry a handgun. On his application, he listed his occupation as a “security guard/private investigator” with the security company. The petitioner attached endorsements to his application attesting to his good moral character and behavior and his ability to exercise self-control. He also attached his employer’s letter stating, in part:“. . . he acts as a deterrent, and protects property and reduces losses. The security company is under contract to respond to burglar alarms, and petitioner will also be involved in surveillances, stakeouts, undercover assignments, fugitive recovery, criminal investigations, high value payroll protection, high value truck escorts, alarm responses and building searches which require apprehending intruders and holding them for local police arrests. In addition, petitioner will frequently be assigned to armed accounts and to hold shifts for armed officers on vacation or sick leave.” The letter further noted it was imperative that petitioner be permitted to carry a handgun since he will be thrust into situations where the presence of a handgun will reduce the threat of unjustifiable harm to the petitioner and those individuals on whose behalf he is assigned to perform investigations or to protect.