Are You A Professional Locksmith?

5/7/2011

In a recent discussion the topic of locksmith licensing had arisen and it soon became an interesting exchange of viewpoints. What struck me the most about it was the rapid decline of reasoning and logic presented by those supporting it. The locksmith industry has for many, many years operated above board and exhibited a level of individual ethics without the need for over reaching regulations. Today however, there are individuals who feel compelled to dismiss a key consideration when presenting their arguments in favor of regulation.

In every "debate" with the minority of locksmiths who advocate for licensing, there seems to be a sense of sudden silence when you challenge their positions with relevant questions. You can hear the sound of crickets when you ask them to answer you and they suddenly disappear from the limelight. To engage in a proper debate, one cannot run and hide when logic prevails and points are clearly proven by the opposing opinion.

I have learned the skill sets of locksmithing from many mentors. I would include nationally recognized names like Bill Reed, Hank Spicer, Frank Agius, Jerry McNickle, Joe Bucha, Len White, and a host of others who have either dedicated time to teach, written manuals or those who have contributed technical "how to" articles in trade magazines, tools, inventions and more.

In this discussion of licensing, I was told that I "just don't get it" when I did not agree with the reasoning being presented as to why locksmiths need regulation. This viewpoint was intriguing to me since I believe I am very open minded and willing to be enlightened about a subject I may not understand. My willingness to debate the issue is not intended to inflame or insult anyone, but they must understand that they do not have the exclusive right to say the things they do without someone engaging their position.

The argument being presented was that in order for the locksmith to be a professional, they must be licensed. In order for the locksmith to be viewed as a professional they must be licensed, and that any misdemeanor, criminal infraction, or felony is cause for someone to not be allowed to practice the skills of locksmithing.

Using logic, I asked the following questions -

Am I a Professional?
Were the individuals I mentioned above professionals?

The answer is YES, and none of these individuals mentioned above or myself were regulated and they have served the locksmith industry well with their accomplishments and contributions. Using logic, the argument that in order to be considered a professional is predicated upon being licensed is not accurate. The very same persons who say your not a professional if your not licensed have gained their knowledge from those who were never regulated and now want to regulate others behind them....so who is kidding who here?

Crimes and misdemeanors! Oh my! The folly that follows these arguments is more of a crime then someones indiscretion or an inept police officer or corrupt court. Proponents of locksmith licensing often appear to be a revival of the Salem Witch Hunts, who seem to want to use any excuse as minor as spitting on the street to restrict someone form seeking a career path in locksmithing. Can I say "craft" in the same sentence as Salem Witch Hunts?

A person suffering from alcoholism, may find themselves with infractions that certainly are a result of poor judgement. However, alcoholism is a proven disease. It is one which an individuals does not select at birth. Such a person may find themselves hit with a felony DWI. Does this mean they should be banished from installing door hardware? No, and it is silly and ignorant to think it in my opinion. However, there are advocates for licensing that believe alcoholism is a crime, not a disease and resort to claiming "you just don't get it!", if you think otherwise.

We stand at the edge of the slippery slope when this type of "unregulated" thought process by a minority group within a trade is allowed to impose its will upon others. The fact is, in a recent poll conducted by the SOPL that only 12% of the locksmiths are in favor of licensing, while 88% oppose it.

I think I get it, I really do. I also think I get it when I hear the sounds of crickets when reasonable questions are asked and not answered. If individuals or groups claiming to be the "voice of the industry" climb up on their soap boxes pointing out splinters in other peoples eyes, they should take some time to examine the planks in theirs.

Locksmith Jarlon Reames of Memphis TN, once told me that licensing is more about others trying to impose "rules" to protect themselves because of their unwillingness to adapt to change, evolve or do what is needed to compete in the marketplace.

The slippery slope is a fast ride downhill for everyone and there are no brakes.

This blog entry is not intended to inflame anyone, and it is not representative of all members of the SOPL. We are a diverse group with many opinions. The purpose of this posting is to simply get others to "think" before they light a match.

15 Comments

Fred Gamble link

5/8/2011 00:54:33

Tom, I agree with you 100 %. I've behaved like a professional locksmith ever since I took a correspondence course in the trade and over the past 16 years I have had maybe 3 or 4 complaints from my customers. I take pride in my work. I don't need to be "regulated" to be honest and professional.
I have been agains licensing from the beginning.

Glenn Younger

5/8/2011 16:12:34

Interesting take on locksmith regulation.
My view is that lack of regulation has by and large worked until recently. Since 2006 and the overrunning of the advertising media by fraudulent scam artist who call themselves locksmiths everything has changed. The overwhelming of the advertising media by illegal, fraudulent and often scam locksmiths has put us in a different place. It’s time for a change.

A comparable argument would be that we leave the radical Muslims alone; it’s worked since the crusades hasn’t it? Then the rise of terrorism and then 9/11 and things changed.
9/11 happened before we got serious about the treat of terrorism. Do we need to have our reputations totally destroyed before we do something?

All across the country innocent people are being hurt and put in harms way when unqualified and fraudulent people who call them selves locksmiths are allowed to ply their con unfettered.

We are not living in the 1970’s, like when I started locksmithing.

Bill Reed, Hank Spicer, Frank Agius, Jerry McNickle, Joe Bucha, Len White and others are fine people. Most of them never had to deal with the current locksmith market situation. Again, these are fine people, several of which I know, so that is not the issue.

The issue is this; is it SAFE to pick up the phone and call anyone who calls themselves a locksmith to do work on your home, vehicle or business? I would not want my mother, wife, or neighbor to call whoever they looked up on Google. I would propose that the public is at risk, and I have seen the results of the unlicensed scam artists and can prove that people are being conned, and worse. The rise of the internet, and faceless (and address-less) businesses is here. Let’s not pretend that because we are responsible, that all of those who call them selves’ locksmiths are as well.

Will licensing solve everything? I don’t believe it will. There are always going to be people who will get a license, and yet should not have one. I’ll admit to that. Well written regulations, that are enforced, can limit the amount of bad eggs but will never make it totally risk free.

I know that licensing doctors or issuing drivers licenses does not mean that there are not some drivers and doctors who should not be licensed. I am happy that there are at least some barriers to entry for prospective drivers and doctors, and believe that it should be at least as hard to become a locksmith, as it is to get a drivers license. The locksmith with a felony HAS the opportunity in my state to get licensed. I have helped a few, and have documentation. These were convicted felons that did stupid things in their younger days, and now are licensed and working locksmiths. So the DWI/DUI argument does not hold water with me. Licensing laws need to be written correctly so that this can happen.

My question is why would anyone be against raising the professionalism bar for our industry? Why would anyone say “anyone who wants to call themselves a locksmith can do so”? How does this improve our profession or craft?

There are lots of people like myself who will engage in a debate, but it does require answers from both sides of the issue.

Glenn Younger

Vikki link

5/9/2011 05:30:23

Glen Younger is spot on but I would expound further that licensing requirements are also for the benefit of the consumer who needs some way to differentiate levels of professionalism in any industry.
I agree a license in itself does not make a locksmith a '"professional' but it tells the consumer some things about who they are calling;
In California it would indicate they are not following the law or, at best, they don't do much commercial work that requires a license for $500.00 or more. Theoretically, if the law is followed a license also requires a minimum number of years of experience.
I also agree with Glen that there are more scams now than ever and hundred of articles and news stories to validate this. In California, complaints against locksmiths have risen 77% since 2007. There is not a week that passes where we are not re-keying or correcting the work of a scam artist.
It is my opinion that a true "professional' would want to raise the standards of our industry. It is not just about if you think you are a professional, but giving the consumer 'something', no matter how small, to hang their hat on.
A state licensed locksmith also insures the consumer that they have workers comp insurance.
Regulating our industry is not about government interference, it is a consequence of the deterioration of our own standards and lack of ethics in our industry.
I would also guess that the 88% you suggest are against licensing have contributed to the 77% rise in loscksmith complaints and I believe that their lack of concern in differentiating our industry standards is reason enough to require licensing.
I know that people lie to get a license, have other unethical locksmith's sign for their experience where there is none and does not serve as a panacea for the illness that exists in our trade. However, it does help the process of weeding out those who propose to be against it ,not because they 'appear' to espouse excess government regulation, but because they don't want to take a test or inves moret in themselves.

eli link

5/9/2011 14:18:28

hi
u wright
all jank locksmith 1800

Barry Campbell link

5/9/2011 17:00:13

Vikki,

I hear what you are saying. Enacting a locksmith licensing law in California would have prevented the 77% increase in consumer complaints since 2007. Oh, wait; California HAS a licensing law - really doing a great job of protecting consumers isn't it? Thank you for providing evidence that licensing locksmiths does not protect the consumer.

Licensing, in any profession, is a means of protecting established businesses from increased competition. Restricting the number of service providers, like restricting the supply of goods, creates an artificial scarcity. This allows members of the corporate oligarchy (those holding government licenses) to artificially raise prices. Again, this is of no benefit to the consumer.

The consumer protection argument is a red herring. Those who support licensing are advocating limited competition and artificial price increases.

Tom Lynch link

5/9/2011 20:51:01

Glenn, I am flattered that someone of your caliber has decided to provide a response to this blog post. I will also commend you on assisting someone who stumbled at one time or another and got hit with a felony. Your willingness to use your influence to help someone is great, but you cannot dismiss that others are doing the same as you.

Before I continue to respond, I want to answer your questions and look forward to you doing the same.

Q: My question is why would anyone be against raising the professionalism bar for our industry? Why would anyone say “anyone who wants to call themselves a locksmith can do so”? How does this improve our profession or craft?

A: Where has anyone said they are against raising professionalism, can you please provide evidence of this? (Please answer). The SOPL has provided to the industry many tools to assist the industry. Is this not helping to raise the professional bar? I haven’t seen one person claim they wanted to improve the locksmiths industry, however I think you and many others are confusing the issues.

As I read your response it becomes pretty clear that you are stating that licensing is required of all locksmiths because of the actions of “scammers”. This is interesting since it is a known fact that where there is locksmith licensing, the scammers have flourished. So licensing does not correct your argument. You even establish in your response that you accept that licensing doesn’t solve everything, so what’s the point when the issue is not about licensing, but enforcement of existing laws to address the scammers activities.

In essence you are saying that all good locksmiths must be penalized for the actions of a few who are “posing as locksmiths” for the purpose of a scam. The scams will still go, license or not. In fact Glenn, these scams are not new and have been in play as far back as 1990 and Bill Reed most certainly was around. In addition he would often say, “Education, Not Legislation – Give me a room full of educated locksmiths and they do not need to be regulated”. To say that he and others did not have to deal with the current locksmith market is kind of ingenuous considering back then the whining was about jacklegs, tinkers, and butchers.

So, to say times are different now is not factually accurate although it may be for you. The only difference now is that larger shops have experienced what the smaller shops and Mom & Pops have known about for years and dealt with creatively and being competitive. It has expanded due to the use of Google and other advertising venues I agree, but it is not the result of hardworking locksmiths doing anything wrong. It basically appears you are saying all locksmiths are bad people who cannot be trusted, therefore need to be regulated.

You may not accept the DWI illustration but it along with other silly comparisons have been used broadly by advocates for licensing along with using someone’s credit history to be considered as a barrier or judgment of character to interfere with becoming a locksmith.

You have said well written regulation is the key. Can you provide evidence of one? (Please answer). In many of the states where licensing exists, even scam operations have been issued licensing, so how was the bar raised in those states? (Please answer).

In a recent email from Gale Johnson I was informed that the locksmith industry is down by 50%, is this what you consider to be a “few bad eggs” being eliminated by legislation? Large shop owners report that they are struggling to find employees because of licensing. The barriers being put in place are not about raising the bar or professionalism and education as much as it is about making the requirements of reaching the bar unachievable for those who make up the fabric of this industry and what appears to be restriction of trade by a minority group within the industry who as I was recently told, are well organized and well financed.

The Society of Professional Locksmiths has addressed the raising of the bar by delivering the first complete online training and proficiency testing for the benefit of education.
I look forward to your support.

5/9/2011 21:55:29

Vikki,

Just so I understand your position, you say the consumer needs to understand the levels of professionalism in the industry and this is accomplished by licensing and it will tell the consumer who they are calling? If this is the case how do you explain that the scammers are licensed in several states? Have you done your proper due diligence to know this? I have.

What exactly does that tell the consumer? What exactly did regulation do in these cases and what does it say about standards?

I would ask that you don't "guess" at things. Your remark that the 88% I referred to in the blog article is responsible for your regional claim of a 77% rise in California is a bit off color considering you are not aware of the credentials of some of those who contributed to the polling and I assure you they are not scammers nor living in your region, and many have certifications.

You stated the following -

Regulating our industry is not about government interference, it is a consequence of the deterioration of our own standards and lack of ethics in our industry.

Could you be specific or describe the standards and ethics you are speaking of, it interests me what you perceive. who do you believe is responsible for any standard and ethics deterioration?

I am struggling with wrapping my arms around your remarks regarding an "illness" the industry has.

The "weeding" out of people, is similar to the "we will get them" crowd I have seen within the industry. How sad that people have to worry so much about "getting people" rather then focusing on building their business. It sounds like you are looking to force people to take tests am I correct?

Being that the SOPL provides such testing I can understand the desire for professional development but testing is a tool, but not a hammer to hit someone over the head with.

I am looking forward to your response.

5/9/2011 22:40:50

It looks like I made two errors in Glenns response.

I mean to say in the first paragraph -

Your willingness to use your influence to help someone is great, but you cannot dismiss that others are NOT doing the same as you.

I mean to say in my Answer -

I haven’t seen one person claim they didn't want to improve the locksmiths industry, however I think you and many others are confusing the issues.

Barry LeClair link

5/11/2011 04:36:04

I agree totaly with Glen and Vikki,enough said

5/16/2011 04:35:05

Everybody has an option,weather us locksmiths should be lienced or regulated.I have expressed my option earlier,and agreed with some other locksmiths,but many others still have a hard time grasping the idea. Lets take a look at this,this way.Locksmithing is considered a trade,more precise a trade in the building industry.Within this industry there are many trades,such as plumbers and electrians to name just a few.these are considered a red seal trade. In the red seal trade education is a must,usually two to four years in a college or trade school prgram.Then they must follow an apprenticship where they also qualify for on the job training before the recieve their certification or lience. Up here in Canada,there is an appenticship for the locksmith but it is not considiered a red seal trade...yet,things are changing,to where in the near future it might be
So now we have the education part of the equation taken care of.But what abpot regulations or lience for the locksmith. Lets consider what a very special man,and also a locksmith,This individual has formed and ran a very good locksmith trade magazine,hes formed a locksmith school and has helped form many locksmith assicoation and organization . But even more important than this he created the locksmith CREED.His name is Leonard Singer. As a locksmith,I shall always honour my public trust,for with me rests the security of property and fortune.As a public guardian,I shall shun the dishonest,the geedy, and the wicked.
For thousands of years, Locksmiths have placed trust and honour above templation,and I shall proudly carrt on the tradation.My character and integreity shall be incorruptible.
As a professional Locksmith.I solemly pledge to protect and guard the secrets of my craft and maintain the honour of my profession as a symbal of skill and integrity of the world.

WE as locksmith should be guide with most highest standards, because we access to fotunes of others.If plumber and electrian have to obey the rules,we must to and regulations or liencings must be the way to good ,but the rulles must be fair,where each locksmith should be vetted individual but not as a whole.Mistermeaner infractions must be jugded or a pardon alliped for.

5/16/2011 18:32:22

Barry,

I believe you have hit on a very important point - ethics within the locksmith industry. Unfortunately, being professional and being ethical are not necessarily the same thing. Folks like Bernie Madoff and Tim Durham may have been professionals in their field, but both operated unethically.

The Associated Locksmiths of America has a Code of Ethics, but it is vague and incredibly weak, especially when it comes to how a locksmith should treat his customers, comprising only a small fraction of the Code.

Contrast that to the Hippocratic Oath that most doctors adhere to. While there are various modern versions of the oath (the one I looked at was published by Cornell), better than half of the oath relates to the doctor's responsibility to the patient. While, yes, doctors are licensed; if you were in need of medical care, would you choose a doctor who you only knew had passed basic licensing requirements, or one who aspired to the ideals of the Oath?

The difference is important. Licensing only sets minimum requirements. An oath instills high ideals. Licensing requires no ethics, whereas an oath is based on ethics. No law or license can create create ethical behavior, and that is where your argument falls short. We agree that ethics are important and in need of improvement within the locksmith field, but you failed to show any causal relationship between licensing and ethical behavior. I wouldn't even suggest you try; it doesn't exist. Ethics (morality) cannot be legislated.

My hope is that the SOPL will create a code of conduct that will encourage its members to behave ethically. This, I believe, should apply to industry manufacturers and suppliers as well as the individual locksmiths. This is how the public's faith and confidence in locksmiths can be restored, just like most people associate doctors with the Hippocratic Oath even though it is not a requirement for licensing.

5/18/2011 03:32:16

The basic argument here is not about ethics,but since being trusted with great fortunes and protection ethics does apply.where the security and protection that we locksmith provide we must be held to the highest standards both ethicially and by the building codes and rules of our industry.The public see us as being totally honest,ethical and with highest work standards.these are the people that should be the voice to reckon with.they deserve the best that we can provide and only following the rules with provide this.It is quit evident that some believe that doing their job does not have to be held to these standards.I provide the best to all my client to the highest standard.If one cannot provide at least the minimun requirement that are ask of us,then one should not be in this trade

5/21/2011 00:56:56

The sounds of crickets! Questions once again have been asked and Glenn & Vikki have disappeared.

Locksmith Training link

8/25/2011 15:54:37

Doesn't anyone see that boils very easily down to the subject of money? You could ask all locksmiths to 'register' with the states at a very inexpensive price and that would function as the equivalent of a license. Nothing more needs to be done. States that do require licensing make great money from 'licensing and continuing education' and this is the reason regulation exists, not to 'protect the public'.

Richard Augustine Berrios link

8/7/2013 05:51:33

In the locksmith business no matter where you practice your trade.
The most important thing is your 'HONOR & INTEGRITY"!
If you have morals that you are in constant battle with ?
I recommend driving a cab, this industry will present itself with many opportunities to be a bad guy!
Word of mouth spreads like wild fire and with the internet playing a factor in marketing - Your company name goes along way if you are Honest and do quality work!

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