The Justice Ministry is looking into allowing security guards at private companies to carry firearms as authorities aim to help the growing sector meet changing conditions.

A senior Justice Ministry source told Sunday’s Kathimerini that an amendment to legislation could allow security guards to obtain gun permits and better protect themselves and the property they safeguard, particularly staff transporting large amounts of cash.

However, concerns as to the effectiveness of gun ownership laws have risen after the recent murder of five men in Agrinion, central Greece.

Last month, a farmer allegedly shot and killed five hunters because he said they were trespassing on his land and scaring his sheep in what is considered to be one of the country’s worst crimes in the last few decades.

According to police estimates, there are 1 million licensed rifles in Greece while the number of illegal guns is placed at 1.5 million.

The majority of the illegal guns are believed to be hunting rifles.

The source added that ministry officials are likely to require guards to undergo formal training before they can be employed by security firms – something that is currently not a prerequisite.

“The only staff that are required to be trained, based on any particular program, are the guards at the airport,” said Evangelos Pallis, president of the Federation of Security Guard Personnel.

Security personnel appointed to the Athens International Airport have been formally trained for their positions and are also tested on how well prepared they are to handle different scenarios, according to Pallis.

Demands for the services of private security guards in Greece have been rising at an annual rate of 25 percent, resulting in a growing work force.

There are some 40,000 private guards employed in Greece who work for more than 1,000 firms.

The number of law enforcement officers in the country reaches 54,000. This figure includes border guards.

“The majority of staff are trained by benefiting from the experience of older colleagues. They are placed next to more experienced staff members for a certain period of time,” added Pallis.