Why would a security guard risk his or her life for a measley $10/hr.?

If it’s your one possibility of employment, then it is. You find a way to deal with it.

Well, which is it, young feller? You want I should freeze or get down on the ground? Mean to say, if’n I freeze, I can’t rightly drop. And if’n I drop, I’m a-gonna be in motion. You see…

I don’t think the money is the deciding factor. I think it has to do with integrity and comittment to one’s job. You’re right that this job may be the only suitable (or available) job for this security guard, but that’s not to say that he isn’t a good, or even great security guard. I have seen in the news plenty of times where a guard has saved people’s lives.

Sorry, but I wouldn’t, nor would I expect anyone else to, enter into a shoot out. There should be a better system. But, the simple title of your question…in our society these days, beggars, and I mean beggars, can’t be choosey.

@Ltryptophan Why make fun of the guard like that? So, that’s what you believe anyone with that job would sound like? Just curious.

Near me, we have engineers with grocery clerk jobs. Wonder what ‘they’ sound like.

I don’t think a lot of them do. I mean, they might say they will, but most won’t ever have to find out if they will or won’t.

Does anybody expect that really? The owners or heads of personnel wouldn’t do it and are probably realists. I would trot over and give them my gun, help load the money if they just wouldn’t shoot me.

@faye You’re right that the HR people and you and me wouldn’t do it, and I’m with you that I would just start handing over the money and gift wrapping it for them.

But that is why you and I are not security guards, or policemen or soldiers. It takes a different kind of person to do those jobs. Some of them do it for the adrenalin rush, but most, if not all of the people that take on public safety jobs , probably do it for altruistic reasons and a sense of pride in serving the community. It’s in their blood and thank goodness for them.

@Kardamom I think most do it because they’re 70 years old and it’s either that or WalMart. Most security guards aren’t exactly coming straight out of the marines.

@papayalily I guess I have a totally different perspective than a lot of people. I used to work for a large museum and there were a lot of security guards. Some of them were born in other countries and were very happy to do this job and they took it very seriously. Most of our guards were in their 20’s or 30’s and a few of them were also going to school to get degrees in criminology. There were a few older guards who were retired policeman who enjoyed staying active by helping people. The job that I had involved working with the guards specifically or being in the same area with them on a daily basis. I got to know them and had a lot of respect for the thankless job that they did.

@Kardamom I didn’t mean to imply that all of them are that way, just some of them.

@MissA please see Raising Arizona starring Nick Cage fer the answer to yer qwestyun.

Upfront, i must say i do not like security guards, BUT there is a need for them. they lack training in law enforcement and subdueing criminals. not that’s said, lets go to your question.

I was the head of security(part-time) for a large department store. this store only used off-duty police officers and not security gurards. a very bad neighborhood.

Next door to my department store was a grocery store. the secuity guard there and i had become pretty good friends. i knew he had not had the proper training for the job he was doing for $9.00 an hour. his main duty was to keep shoplifters from running out the front door with beer and meat. one night, there was a lot of commotion at the grocery store. i could see my security guard friend standing in the parking lot. he was pale and had peed in his pants. i asked what happened? he said a man and woman ran out the front door with an armload of steaks. i ran after them. the man pulled a gun on me and pointed it at my chest. he pulled the trigger twice, but nothing happened. they escaped. this man was scared to death and quit that night.

This is just one case of security guards not being paid enough and not having enough training to attempt to stop thieves.

In most cases it would be unwise to even think about engaging the criminal element in any place where there are people inside who may get hit..over money? Sure the guard might get lucky and knock one of the bad guys down but at what cost? I find it hard to believe the management would expect it. It’s all insured isn’t it?
The old saying goes here too….you get what you pay for. If the bank wanted top notch people to handle those situations they are going to have to pony up to get the serious people and even then, still unwise to start a shooting war in a bank.

Security guards that carry guns get paid more than $10/hr. Not much more, mind you, which is why I don’t do it.

And I happen to be a part time guard with an Anthropology degree, for what it’s worth. My main job doesn’t give me enough days. And I don’t even bother to hold it when I have to go to the bathroom. The job isn’t worth bladder damage, let alone getting hurt. Most of the guards I know feel similarly. In most cases, security guards are just surveillance and deterrent.

Maybe because they either enjoy it or it’s the only job they can get and they need to support their families. I wouldn’t want to risk my life day in and day out, but I would do it to support my wife.