Should Security Officers be given more rights?

With the on going problems in the USA, Security Officers are becoming a regular sight in a lot of businesses. No one has the right to hurt another and these Security Officers are there doing the same jobs as police, they just don't have the same gear (guns) to defend themselves. Security Officers should be made more like police. No I am not saying the need Guns, but something more is needed. Did you know that 70 Security Officers lost there lives in the Trade Centers because they would not abandon their post. They were there trying hard to save people.

I agree. A lot of the security guards need to be "updated", so they are more like the private security firms. Those guys wear Kevlar, carry guns & handcuffs, and have the ability to detain you (somewhere in between a citizen's arrest & an actual arrest) IF they actually see you do a crime.

I think this would help a lot of security officers, since I agree they have been quickly taking on the ever-increasing load of crime. Also, the closer a security officer looks to an actual police officer, the less likely someone may commit a crime.

The more rights they have the more problems we will have.

if they did ppl could hire their friends as security guards and they could all carry guns, what you have to remember is that they arent employed by the government but by citizens

No being one myself and seeing some of my coworkers HELL NO

They don't have equivalent training. Therefore they shouldn't receive equivalent pay and gear. as sad as it may be, but if they were held as equal then i do believe everyone would choose to be a Security G. rather than a Police officer. true, some amateurs have more dignity Than the pros, the world just doesn't care

First off, they are NOT doing the same job as police. This will probably upset many security guards, however, it is not the same. If it was, you would not call the police when the you know what hits the fan. Even if security guards had guns, they don't have the training or authority to use them in the same way.
Secondly, security guards are brave. I would not put on a law enforcement type uniform without a gun. Most of the public doesn't know the difference between security and law enforcement, all they see are the patches and badge.
Lastly, you are right. Something more is needed. In security and law enforcement. The answer is money and training. I'm not saying that they are not getting both, however, you can never get enough of either.

With the means to defend themselves, security guards are useless. You can't do much with words alone, and very few, if any reagular security guards are martial arts experts.

I used to work security and I trusted my co-workers, some of us were actually armed. I do not feel that arming security officers will make them more respected.

I think you should get more than just yourself, like a billy club maybe? Or on of those extendable one like in National Security.