As reality TV has made its way into American homes, shows like National Geographic’s “Pet dog the Bounty Seeker” and “Bounty Hunter” have filled living rooms with tough-as-nails characters, vibrant stories and scenes. of breaking down doors and taking fugitives. Pet the Bounty Seeker has actually become a household name. However, while these shows produce good entertainment, they hardly reveal what life is like as a real bondsman. While bail bondsmen sixteen bail jumpers every day, conflicts as dramatic as those shown on television are few and far between. Still, catching unpredictable fugitives must be dangerous work, and bail bondsmen must take the right security measures.

When a defendant is arrested and is unable to pay the bail amount set by the judge, he or she usually calls a bail bondsman. After agreeing to the bond and signing the paperwork, the bail bondsman provides the bail money and the defendant is released. The bail bondsman then makes sure that the defendant shows up in court. Most of the time, everything goes according to plan; however, there are also times when the defendant skips bail hearings and the bail bondsman must apprehend the “missed” and take them back to jail. Although these confrontations are not usually violent, some bail bondsmen carry weapons as an added precaution.

A common question experienced bail bondsmen are asked is whether becoming a bail bondsman guarantees that you will be able to carry a gun. What many people don’t realize is that bail bondsmen are subject to the same rules and regulations as regular citizens. They are not allowed to carry weapons unless they have a proper license issued by the state in which they live. Bail bondsmen must take specific courses on the firearms they will carry, and the courses must be administered by organizations approved by the Division of Criminal Investigations and Technical Services.

Gun laws and guidelines vary from state to state. For this reason, it is essential that anyone who wants to become a bail bondsman knows the specific policies of the state in which he lives, including the rules related to brandishing and dropping weapons in public. Although bail bondsmen are allowed to carry weapons and capture suspects, they still have to abide by the same gun statutes that ordinary citizens are expected to follow.

In addition to going through certification and training to carry a weapon, bail bond agents must pass criminal background checks. If they have previous convictions, they are not allowed to carry weapons. Recently, a bail bondsman in Maryland was arrested for having a .38 caliber revolver in his possession. Due to a prior conviction for robbery, he was prohibited from carrying a firearm.

A bondsman must recognize not only gun laws, but also laws on the arrest and detention of suspects. If a bail bondsman uses unnecessary and excessive force when catching a defendant, or arresting the wrong person, he faces possible claims and even criminal charges. Although the circumstances are few, there are times when bail bondsmen come across damaging “jumps” who don’t want to be stopped. In such scenarios, when a bondsman’s life is at stake, the question arises: When is it okay for a bondsman to fire a gun in defense?

In 2008, a Washington man who skipped bail on multiple pending criminal charges was confronted by four bail bondsmen. The suspect backed his car into one of the officers and the officer, fearing for his life, fatally shot the man. In a separate incident in 2012, two California bail bondsmen were on the receiving end of the fatal shooting, killed while trying to apprehend a defendant who had skipped bail on a drug possession charge. Bail bondsmen have to be prepared for anything. They know that backup is essential, as even a violent container incident can be too much.

David Viele, a 10-year bail bonds veteran, says that even though he carries a gun, he has never had to use it, because in most cases, the suspect surrenders. So while real bail bondsman jobs are not the drama that plays out on reality TV, the job of a bail bondsman can be dangerous and unpredictable. That is why some choose to carry weapons. However, bail bondsmen know that they are subject to the same gun laws as normal citizens. For this reason, they are required to go through firearms training before becoming a bondsman and are responsible for how they use their weapons.