Personal Protection Solutions provides licensed armed security guards and comprehensive armed security services to businesses, executives, estates, and high-net-worth individuals across Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania. Our armed private security guards are hand-selected, rigorously trained, and fully licensed in every state where they operate, delivering protection you can rely on when the risk is real.
What Is an Armed Security Guard?
An armed security guard is a licensed private security professional authorized to carry a firearm while on duty. Armed guards provide a visible deterrent to criminal activity. They are trained to respond to physical threats when they arise, including incidents involving weapons, violent intruders, or direct threats to persons or property.
Armed security differs from unarmed security in both the level of threat it is suited to address and the licensing requirements involved. In Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania, armed guards must meet state-specific licensing, training, and firearms qualification requirements. Every Personal Protection Solutions armed guard is licensed and compliant in the jurisdiction where they are assigned.
Armed Security Services from Personal Protection Solutions
We deploy armed security guards across a range of environments and client types. Our armed security services include:
Armed Executive Protection
Armed personal protection for executives, C-suite leaders, celebrities, and high-profile individuals. Our armed EP agents provide discreet, professional coverage during daily movements, travel, and public appearances. Learn more on our Executive Protection page.
Armed Estate & Residential Security
Armed guards are stationed at or patrol private residences, estates, and gated communities. Covers access control, perimeter monitoring, and rapid response to on-property threats.
Armed Business & Corporate Security
Armed security guards for office buildings, corporate campuses, retail operations, warehouses, and construction sites. Effective deterrence for theft, trespassing, and workplace violence threats.
Armed Event Security
Armed guards for high-profile private events, corporate gatherings, political fundraisers, and public-facing appearances where the principal or attendees face elevated risk.
Armed Transportation Security
Armed escorts for executives, high-value cargo, and sensitive personnel movements throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Coordinated with route planning and threat assessment.
Armed Security Consulting & Threat Assessment
Not sure whether you need armed security, or how many guards your situation requires? We conduct threat and vulnerability assessments to give you a clear-eyed answer before any contract is signed.
Armed vs. Unarmed Security Guards: How to Decide
The right level of security depends on your threat environment, not a default preference. Here is a straightforward breakdown:
Armed security guards are appropriate when:
- There is a credible, documented threat to a person or property
- The site or client profile creates elevated risk, high cash volume, high-value assets, and high-profile individuals
- Prior incidents have occurred at the location or with the individual
- The environment involves isolated or after-hours operations, where response times are slow
- Stakeholder or contractual requirements specify armed coverage
Unarmed security may be sufficient when:
- The primary need is access control, visitor screening, or a visible deterrent
- The threat level is low, and the site does not handle high-value assets or at-risk individuals
- Venue or jurisdiction rules prohibit firearms on premises
We will never push armed security when it is not warranted, and we will never recommend unarmed coverage when the threat calls for more. Our assessments are honest.
Why Choose Personal Protection Solutions for Armed Security?
Veteran-Led with Real-World EP Experience
Personal Protection Solutions was founded by Christopher Quirk, a U.S. Army veteran with 18 years of service and over 500 executive protection details completed. Our armed guards are not pulled from a staffing database; they are vetted, trained, and supervised by people who have done this work at the highest levels.
Fully Licensed in Every State We Operate
Armed security licensing is regulated by each state, and requirements vary significantly across Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. PPS maintains active compliance in every jurisdiction. You will never be assigned a guard who is not properly licensed and qualified to carry firearms in your state.
Discreet and Professional, Not Intimidating
Our armed private security guards are trained to maintain a professional, low-profile presence. Whether in business attire for an executive client or in uniform for a corporate post, our guards project calm authority, not aggression. That matters for your brand, your guests, and your clients.
Boutique Firm. Direct Communication.
We are not a national guard staffing company with a call center. When you work with Personal Protection Solutions, you work directly with experienced security leadership. Your situation is known, your guards are briefed, and your coverage does not fall through the cracks.
Armed Security Guard Services Across the Mid-Atlantic
Personal Protection Solutions provides armed security guards and armed security services throughout:
- Maryland, Baltimore, Columbia, Silver Spring, Germantown, Rockville, Annapolis, and statewide
- Virginia, Richmond, Virginia Beach, Arlington, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, Alexandria, and throughout the state
- Washington D.C., Full metro coverage including Capitol Hill, Georgetown, and the broader DMV corridor
- Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, Reading, and surrounding areas
Our full-service footprint extends across 10 states, including Delaware, New Jersey, Ohio, North Carolina, West Virginia, and Michigan. Contact us to discuss armed security coverage in your specific location.
Frequently Asked Questions About Armed Security Guards
An armed security guard is typically assigned to protect a fixed location, a building, an event, or a property. An armed executive protection agent is assigned to protect a specific person, moving with them throughout their day. Personal Protection Solutions provides both services, and many engagements combine the two, for example, armed guards on an estate plus an armed EP agent traveling with the principal.
Yes. PPS maintains compliance with the armed security licensing requirements of every state where we operate. Each state has its own standards for armed guard licensing, firearms qualification, and background investigation, and our guards meet all applicable requirements for their assigned jurisdiction.
No. Armed private security guards are not law enforcement officers and do not have arrest powers. Their authority is limited to that of any private individual, which in most states includes the right to detain a person committing a crime on the property where they are assigned (commonly called a citizen’s arrest). Any use of force must be legally justified. Our guards are trained on use-of-force law and apply it professionally.
Armed security guard costs depend on the number of guards required, post hours, location, nature of the assignment, and the threat level. We provide customized quotes after an initial consultation. Contact us to discuss your situation and get an accurate estimate.
For planned engagements, we recommend at least 48 to 72 hours of lead time for proper briefing, advance work, and compliance verification. For urgent situations, contact us immediately. We will assess availability and mobilize as quickly and safely as possible.
Yes. Many of our clients require coverage across multiple environments: office, home, and travel. We design integrated security plans that cover all relevant locations and movements under a single coordinated strategy.