Thoughts on an armed pharmacist?

[GreyFox2002]

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The recent tragedy at Virginia Tech has me rethinking some of the concepts that America has with gun control laws. As a future pharmacist, I'm concerned about the increasing incidences of pharmacies getting held up for prescription drugs. I dont know if I want to do retail or not, but I'm sure the thought would be in the back of my mind if I worked retail.

Whats your thoughts on the matter? Do you think its appropriate for a pharmacist to "pack heat" for defensive purposes? Is there anyone here who is a pharmacist that has a CCW, or knows one? I'm curious about it.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

Bullet proof the pharmacy.

 

[sdn1977]

No - I don't believe in armed pharmacists.

But....this has been discussed here before & I'm in the minority.

 

[Pharmguy07]

I'm a (soon-to-be) pharmacist with a CCW. Depending on who I decide to work for and company policies, I most certainly would carry while at work. Of course if anyone ever robbed the place I'd give them whatever they want, but it's stupid not to have protection if someone starts shooting people or you think that they're about to.

 

[KUMoose]

Frankly I'd much rather carry a couple of tazzers. Let the person start hitting the scripts and then tag them in the back. Low lethality and less chance to screw up the store.

While I believe in CCW, I am not sure that carrying in a place supposedly for healing, is the best image to send and from what I've read you're far more likely to survive a pharmacy hold up then, say, a convenience store hold up (which I've been through). Why push your luck?

The real question for me is whether to store the CIIs on the shelves or in a safe. On the shelves means that a silent alarm would most likely catch the theif in the store, because they'd have to figure out where the "good" drugs were. Putting them in a safe, means they'd get in and out faster, which generally means it's safer for the staff.

 

[Rumplestiltazepam]

Stores could have dummie bottle of CII ready for such situations full of estrogen or something.

 

[ZpackSux]

I thought the topic was to discuss pharmacist with one arm...

 

[KUMoose]

I thought the topic was to discuss pharmacist with one arm...

God if that's next to a pain management clinic that's a whole new deffinition of a slot machine.

 

[psychoandy]

I'm for it if you want it (think like airline pilots) but the big hurdle would be finding a place where you could work. Other than self employment, I would think all of the corporate retail pharmacies, along with hospitals, have a no weapons rule. Hell, I doubt they'd let someone carry around a leatherman, because omg its a knife who needs that?

So, short of running your own shop (like a one stop pharmacy/liquor store/gun/pawn shop/checks cashing place), or admin who think likewise, I don't see CCW and pharmacy going together.

 

[Glowwyrm]

Bullet proof the pharmacy.

👍 Why they aren't already is beyond me. I know that there is the cost issue but it seems well worth it.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

I fully plan on getting a riot shotgun if I practice in retail and said establishment allows it.

"Aww...you got a .22...how cute..*whips out Mossberg 590* What did you want again?"


Deterence is better than violence, though, so advertising the fact is the best idea. That's why nobody attacks the US militarily. We can blow up the entire Earth 45 times over at the press of a button.

I'd put posters on the front of the door that read:

Pharmacist is armed with this:

 

[psychoandy]

👍 Why they aren't already is beyond me. I know that there is the cost issue but it seems well worth it.

Bullet resistant would be a better term 😱
http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot6_3.htm

That, and (from experience) it's really hard to talk to people behind 2 inches of Lexan without one of those voice amplifier things like you see when buying movie tickets. It is a pretty good deterrent, but to someone who put more than an hour of thought into knocking off a pharmacy, I'm sure you could figure out other ways.

 

[Farmercyst]

Deterence is better than violence, though, so advertising the fact is the best idea. That's why nobody attacks the US militarily. We can blow up the entire Earth 45 times over at the press of a button.

I suppose not, but they do take on LAPD SWAT, and the occasional stolen tank from the national guard.🙄