Senate committee hears support for arming trained tactical medics to protect themselves, patients during high-risk operations
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Summary
Witnesses from law enforcement and EMS told senators that House Bill 4995 would let trained tactical medical professionals carry handguns while embedded with tactical units, with training and certification requirements and legal defenses for actions taken in the scope of duty.
The Committee on State Affairs took testimony on House Bill 4995, a measure that would grant civil-liability immunity to government units for incidents arising from the discharge of a firearm by tactical medical professionals and provide limited defenses to criminal prosecution for those professionals when they carry a firearm while acting within the scope of their duties. The bill would also require training and certification standards administered with consultation from the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
Supporters from law enforcement and emergency medical services told the committee the policy is necessary because tactical medics routinely operate alongside SWAT and other tactical units in active-shooter and hostage scenarios and need a limited ability to defend themselves and patients. John Gonzales, chief of Williamson County Emergency Medical Services, said tactical medics embedded with regional SWAT teams should be able to secure a weapon quickly during a fluid incident; he described a proposal in which the firearm would be stored securely in an ambulance lockbox and subject to strict protocols for access and use.
Detective Doug Barner, a SWAT team leader, said allowing tactical medics to carry a firearm would sometimes free up SWAT operators who are otherwise assigned to protect a medic during operations and therefore increase tactical flexibility.
The committee heard no public opposition in the hearing and left the bill pending.
(Ending) Sponsors said the bill balances operational safety for medics and patients with accountability through required training, certification and agency protocols; the committee left it pending for further consideration.
