The problem with this topic (along with armed EMS) is that it tends to pop up every 6 months or so.
I've never seen it on an EMS forum, although I have seen the armed EMT thing all too many times. This actually pops up on firearms forums, where there is probably as much ignorance about EMS as most EMS workers have about firearms.
I think people in EMS over think this and don't know enough about firearms or firearms owners to really have an idea of what they are supposed to do. That's a generalization, I know and I know several EMS people who are also firearms owners. Still, like the population in general, EMS providers for the most part are not firearms owners or shooters. There is a lot of bad information out there.
It's important to understand that laws vary widely across the various states. What's legal in CA is not in MA and vice versa.
I think the most important thing to remember is that there are far more lawful firearms owners out there than you may realize. Some states require licenses for concealed carry, some don't, and some have no provisions in their law for concealed carry by people who are not police officers.
None of which is vital to know for us. What is vital to know is that a conscious, oriented person, who has an illness is going to be reluctant to give up his (or her) firearm to a complete stranger. If you explain to him or her why you don't feel comfortable having them armed, they'll probably be fine with leaving it somewhere where they can secure it, giving it to a police officer, or having hospital security hold on to it. Know that many hospital security people won't be comfortable with that and that THEY might call the police.
The conscious, but disoriented patient is the biggest challenge here. The military has long recognized that injured soldiers who are disoriented pose a threat to the medics and their fellow soldiers. As a result the first thing that the medic does is secure the weapons. This has been told to me by guys who have been downrange and who I know not to be BSers. The same goes for police officers, but an officer is injured the chances are very good that another officer will be there to secure the injured officers weapon.
If the patient is a civilian, then it's prudent to remove and secure any firearms you find. Than notify the police so they can secure them. I'd document that on my PCR so if the firearm goes missing, no one suspects that you might have taken it.
As to "clearing" a firearm, don't. It's not necessary to unload a weapon to make it safe. In fact, if you are not familiar with weapons trying to clear it can cause a negligent discharge, which is what you want to avoid. Also, if the firearm is part of a criminal investigation, clearing it inserts you into the chain of custody and can taint the evidentiary value of the firearm and ammunition.
Follow the four rules and you and everyone else will be safe.
1) All firearms are always loaded.
2) Don't point that muzzle of a firearm at anything you are not willing to destroy.
3) Know the target and what's behind it. (Doesn't apply in this situation)
4) Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
For EMS, that's keep you finger off the trigger.
Lawful firearms owners are among the most law abiding people there are. In some states, like MA, you have to be squeaky clean to get a License to Carry. Others, like Vermont, Alaska, and Arizona, don't require licenses for open or concealed carry. Some, like New Hampshire, allow open carry without a permit, but require a permit for concealed carry. As I said, laws vary widely.
The federal and state laws controlling sales of firearms are off topic and way too complex anyway, so I won't touch on them. Suffice it to say that criminals will get firearms if they want them, no matter what the law says. The lawful firearms owner will follow the law, no matter how stupid he or she may think they are.
Finally, don't assume that only men can be armed. The fastest growing demographic of firearms owners is women. Especially younger women.
