Well, I admit I'm disturbed by this recent trend. Not so much because I fear rent-a-cops, but because of an emerging double standard. In NOLA, the cops were disarming citizens, while the rent-a-cops were carrying automatic weapons that citizens aren't allowed to carry themselves. IMHO, rent-a-cops should have to abide by the same carry laws I do. To allow otherwise is inviting class warfare.
As far as I know, that is the case, that private security guards have to abide by the same carry laws as anyone else. In fact, during my 5 year stint with CPP/Pinkerton in Virginia, the law was stricter for an armed uniformed guard, in that the law specifically prohibited an armed uniformed guard's sidearm to be anything other than a 4" barreled .38 special revolver (ie, no .357's, .44's, 9mmm autos, etc...)
the infowarrior