I’ve gotta say, I wouldn’t mind being escorted around New York City by armed veterans. But it shouldn’t be necessary.
Turns out, if you defund the police, the wealthy and powerful will turn to private security.
A new app called Protector, also known as “Uber with guns,” made its debut at No. 3 in the Apple App Store yesterday.
The app has one mission: to supply armed bodyguards to “protectees” at the touch of a button. The protectors, former law enforcement officers who drive black Cadillac Escalades, will escort you from place to place throughout your day.
Protectees can chose how many protectors they want on their “mission,” and what outfit they’re wearing: business formal, business casual, tactical casual, or “operator” — the last category includes SWAT-like tactical gear. Clients can choose to have a motorcade of Escalades for their mission (currently, a protectee can reserve up to five of the SUVs for the occasion).
For a six-hour stint with one protector, users will pay over $600. Add in a motorcade and a whole day, and the cost nears $5,000. Currently, protectors are only operating in New York City and Los Angeles, but the app has its eyes on a national market.
According to a press release for the company,
“Daily concerns for the safety of Americans and their loved ones are becoming all too common. Protector was created with the goal of improving personal security and helping to prevent tragedies. With an expected launch in Q1 of 2025, Protector is working hand-in-hand with all relevant regulatory bodies to ensure that they are properly equipped to support this growing need”
Protector’s founder, Nick Sarath, said in the release, “Our trained and highly experienced team is ready to help provide enhanced security to all citizens as soon as we launch. . . . We are here to help law enforcement and ultimately we are here to help you.”
Two social media influencers who used Protector on their way from Newark Airport to New York Fashion Week told the New York Post, “As two girls in their twenties, experiencing NYC in this way was incredible — we’ve never felt safer in the city. We’ve never experienced a service like Protector and honestly, we’re already having withdrawals.”
The brand has actively used the cold-blooded murder of former UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson in its marketing, showcasing what might have happened if he had hired protectors.
I’ve gotta say, I wouldn’t mind being escorted around New York by veterans (can we fit that in the budget, boss?). However, American cities ought to be safe and civilized enough to rise above the third-world need for armed guards and black SUVs.