The Bank Job

Many years ago, I was assigned as an armed guard at a local bank. I showed up with spit shined shoes, pressed uniform and 2 guns (not knowing if they wanted me to carry a revolver or a semi-automatic. I was told upon arrival it was to be a revolver. So I put on the appropriate kydex holster, gun (S&W 586) and speed loaders. 10 minutes before opening, I walked into the lobby and the manager rushed up to me and said "You can't carry that!" I politely asked what the problem was.

He explained I had to carry their gun. He went into the vault and returned with a cracked and battered Sam Brown duty belt, pouch holster and ammo in belt loops. The ammo was corroded...quite a great growth of green verdigris. I started to take the gun out of the holster to examine it, determine if it was loaded, etc. Was the ammo in the gun equally green?
The manager stopped me and said "Oh, you can't do that!"
What?
"Take it out of its holster!"
Ok, I said.
I went to the restroom and examined it anyway. The cylinder was rusted shut. It could not be cocked. It was a real .38 M+P Smith and Wesson with round nose lead bullets but not a useable gun. I explained this to the manager.
He said. "This is the only gun you can carry. It cannot be removed from the bank. "
This gave me a clue as to what the industry had in store for me.
Security Theater. (See Bruce Schneier for definition: http://www.schneier.com/)

Over the next 3 days I surreptitiously cleaned, duty tuned, replace springs and lubed the gun, I left the grip back strap and right side plate rusty and replaced the old ammo with new. Nothing I could really do about the bore or chambers. (This gives you a clue about me.)
No one noticed. (This gives you another clue about them.)

This bank job had a stool upon which I sat. I have worked other banks where I had to stand all day in one or two places. (The phrase "toe the line" also refers to a naval punishment where one had to stand in place for long periods for minor infractions. http://www.history.navy.mil/trivia/trivia03.htm)