Many multinational companies have a policy of not using armed guards except in extreme circumstances. Where armed guards are used, great care should be taken to ensure that they are well trained and psychologically suited, and that the guidance given to guards pays heed to the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms. http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/h_comp43.htm.
One scenario for which it is difficult to train, but which nevertheless needs to be anticipated if armed guards are deployed, is that of a crowd disturbance at the company gates turning violent. Under these circumstances the discharge of a weapon as a warning could create an effect opposite to that desired, especially if dealing with a crowd that is already angry.
This is precisely what happened in India on Monday, when dismissed workers at the Indian subsidiary of an Italian firm staged a violent protest at the company premises. According to police, a gunshot by a panicking guard led to the workers going on the rampage and bludgeoning the CEO to death. In addition to the death of the CEO, 10 workers remain in a critical condition in intensive care.
