[spacemanspiff]

Our state has an investigative agency whose sole purpose is to ensure that licensed alcohol serving establishments are following the law. These investigators enter bars, restaurants, and liquor stores to observe doorstaff, bartenders, servers, clerks, etc and whether or not they ask for photo ID, or if they stop already intoxicated persons from entering, or if they cut off those who are intoxicated.
These investigators are well versed in alcohol-laws at both municipal and state levels. The Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) works sting operations to send in underage persons to see if they are stopped at the door, or if no doorstaff is present, if they are served an alcoholic beverage.
If the establishments fail, the person(s) who did not do their job get issued a citation (legally it counts as an arrest, even though they are not placed in handcuffs), and it typically results in a $500 fine to the individual, not the establishment.

Recently, this board of investigators (ABC) voted to arm their investigators.
It is already illegal for an individual in a bar to carry a firearm, unless the person is a LEO. I don't know for certain, but the phrase used by the law might be 'peace officer', so it can encompass a wide variety of agencys. At least, thats what is written in the law as regards whom a person carrying concealed must announce it should they be stopped or detained by an aforementioned 'peace officer'.

I am a bit torn on this matter, on one hand, yes, these investigators are working to enforce the law, and some of them do have prior/present law enforcement experience, but is there really a need for an armed investigator? Some of the investigators wear plain clothes, some wear uniforms.

However on the other hand, these investigators typically go out in the field solo, and mingle with the crowd in bars. Local police almost never do a solo walk through of any bar, they pair up, and do their best to keep away from crowded situations.

Anyone else have any thoughts about this?