TexasCHLforum.com

My partner was violently attacked by a prisoner trying to escape during a transfer from the jail to the hospital last week. My best friend earned the department's highest valor award last year for wining in a hand to hand struggle over a .357 revolver a husband of a patient pulled on 7 responders in a bedroom attempting to revive his wife in cardiac arrest. I have had guns pulled on me, been in riots, assaulted, had a crack whore try to obtain my narcotics with a scapel, you name it it happens frequently. We have had pregnant medics intentionally kicked in the belly, a guy even tried to strangle me in an alley way 4 years ago. We are often onscene of donestic violence and assault calls even murders before the cops no matter how hard we try to avoid it simply due to the nature of the bussiness.

We get assaulted every day and mostly we win or get lucky. We are at much higher risk than the public and often the cops. What can we do about it? Nothing. Departments universally almost prohibit any tool for self defense except a ballitic vest (issued) much less a lethal weapon. I'm not sure who lobbied for this but I for one would be eternally grateful if the TSRA would support this bill and our first responders who do not get the choice of where they go and what they have to do.