Washington State Security Guard License Practice Exam

Security guards should be __________ from engaging with an individual who has a weapon

1. Encouraged

2. Discouraged

3. Excited

4. None of the above

The correct answer is: Discouraged

The correct answer is that security guards should be "discouraged" from engaging with an individual who has a weapon. In the field of security, safeguarding the security personnel's well-being is of primary importance. There is potential for dangerous outcomes when a security guard interacts directly with an individual who has a weapon due to the unpredictability of the situation. The recommended approach is for security guards to act in a preventative and observational manner, and to alert local law enforcement who are better equipped and trained to handle such dangerous situations. This is in line with the use of proportionate response, where the response to a security threat should be proportionate to its level, and in this case a direct engagement with a weapon holder could escalate the situation unnecessarily. Hence, they are discouraged from participating in such activities for their safety and the safety of others.