By FireRescue1 Staff
MORROW, Ga. — A fire chief’s proposal would allow firefighters to store their handguns in fire stations following a rash of vehicle break-ins while firefighters were on duty.
11alive.com reported that Morrow Chief Roger Swint presented a policy to council members that would allow firefighters with a valid gun permit to store their handgun in the station. The gun would need to be unloaded and secured in firefighters’ lockers.
The proposal is in light of multiple thefts from fire stations – including a gun that was stolen from a firefighter’s car.
“We have increased the lighting out there, we’ve got a police car parked back there, we’ve trimmed the bushes, trying to make it better, but as you see on the news almost every night, they are hitting fire departments all over metro Atlanta,” Chief Swint said. “No matter what we do to try to protect that area, short of putting a police officer back there all the time, it’s not going to go away any time soon.”
Chief Swint told News-Daily.com that guns would not be carried or displayed while on department property.
“They’re here to do a job and it doesn’t involve guns, so I just want to allow them to store a gun and that’s it,” Chief Swint said.
City attorneys are reviewing Chief Swint’s proposal; after the review, the city council will then make a decision. The city currently bars guns in fire stations.