A new Texas law that went into effect over the weekend allows private security officers to carry guns in public.

The law is designed to deter crime.

Used to be that private security officers like Lt. Robert Marquez, who work for Blue Moon Investigations, had to leave their firearms in their car unless they were on the job.

That’s not the case anymore.

The question now is training.

How much, if any, do private security officers get with guns?

Research shows that the state orders them to take one week of classes when they begin.

The security officers must then take mandatory refresher courses, similar to law enforcement, every two years.

“Imagine having 4,000 armed security officers that the public is not used to seeing. Because before they had to go straight to work and straight back. Now, you’re taking 4,000 plus security officers and you’re putting them in public places. That’s the size of the Houston Police Department,” said Jeff Moore with Blue Moon Investigations.

The state’s 4,000 armed security officers, including 60 like Marquez at Blue Moon Investigations, are part of this new presence designed to protect the public and themselves when police aren’t around.