I work armed security in Texas. I have worked armed and unarmed for several companies. I do this to support myself while I write for publication, which I can do on post where I now am. (I was a college student when I began this.)
My present post is a private residence. The old rich witch whom I protect has enemies, some of whom are former servants. Several of these have worked there while I have. They were probably as dangerous as anyone who'd come off the street or out of the considerable acreage of woods behind the property. There are foxes, raccoons, and opossums in those woods, right in the most affluent part of a major city!
I've had a few dangerous situations. In the worst case, four blacks in a maroon pickup truck pulled down the long driveway about three in the morning, and seemed surprised to find an armed guard. They sat there for several minutes, debating what to do next. (Moderator: let the race comment stand. You'll see why it applies in a moment.) I still believe they intended a home invasion.
One said, "We can do this, Man."
Another said, "No, Man, he got a gun. I seen it when he got out of the car".
I stood behind my vehicle, not drawing because they had shown no weapon. I had no backup, no radio or telephone, and no way to summon help. If I had, the servant who responded - if he bothered - was unlikely to be of help.
Finally, they became afraid that I'd do something or that I'd somehow called for help, and they left.
About a week later, four men driving a truck like that, and of the same ethnicity, held up a sporting goods store and cut the throats of the clerks. The manager didn't have her throat fully severed, and tripped an alarm. She testified (recognized one of them as an employee, who'd let his friends in the back door after closing) and they all got either life sentences or the death penalty; I don't recall which. The leader was shot to death by police while trying to escape...in a truck that looked like the one I saw!
Guard work is unrespected, largely because most guards are really as bad as the public thinks they are. The pay is usually very poor; I'm looking for a better job. I can't do police work, as I have asthma and my uncorrected vision (they won't test while wearing glasses) doesn't meet peace officer standards. I didn't complete my senior year of college, so can't apply for jobs requiring a degree. (I do hold an AA degree.)
I don't recommend the field It sucks, in the main. But, when the economy precludes getting better, it provides a liveable (sort of) income, especially when augmented by the few thousand dollars that I earn annually as a writer.
My gun, which I guess will interest some, is a S&W M66, four-inch bbl. (I own it.)
Wish me luck finding a better job. With Affirmative Action in place, it can be tough finding anything worth having, if one is a white male, which I am.
Lone Star