As a citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia and a private security officer credentialed by the Virginia DCJS I strongly encourage a repeal on the current ban that prevents EMS personnel from carrying weapons for their own personal defense while on the job.  Many times EMS responders are the first life-savers on-scene at shootings and other violent and dangerous incidents.  The fact that these hard-working and diligent First Responders are forced to put themselves at risk from criminals and dangerous individuals who may still occupy the scene of a victim in medical jeopardy, often before the police arrive, is bad enough.  When you compound this risk by precluding EMS personnel from the ability to defend themselves from such evil people, again, BEFORE cops are on-scene, then you have put these life-savers behind the 8-ball in a BIG way!  Please change the law to enable EMS personnel to arm themselves and thereby protect their ability to survive and save others.

Thank You for your time!

Sincerely,

Ryan S. Bonney