Becoming a security guard in Tennessee may soon become a little more strenuous.
A bill that would require de-escalation training and strengthen licensing requirements for some private security guards has been passed by the state Senate.
“I think that’s good because they can get more adapted to the rights and wrongs of what they’re doing, and it will be safer for everyone else,” Maceo Franklin said. The new bill named the ‘Dallas Law’ is sponsored by Sen. Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville).
“When you walk in the door, you want to know that if there’s somebody who has a shirt that says ‘security,’ they actually know enough to keep the patron and keep the resident safe,” Yarbro said. The senator said it comes after 22-year-old Dallas Barrett was killed at a downtown Nashville bar last August while being restrained by six security guards.
“We found out later that the security people who were working at the bar, four of them weren’t licensed at all, and even the two security people who were licensed had never received any training,” Yarbro said. In addition to more training, Yarbro said the legislation would require people working in security to hold a current certification from the American Red Cross to render emergency aid.
As for the people, they say more training means less stress while enjoying a night out on Beale. “It’s security. You trust them securing an area. Would you want a regular joe or someone who has actually been trained for combat,” Sean Garnet said.
For the bill to become law, the legislation will have to advance in the House. The bill also comes after three recent shootings involving security guards in Memphis, some of them who authorities say were unlicensed.
