Our View
Our View
‘It’s more important to have a gun in your hand than a cop on the phone’
Isnʼt it funny that while Obama is abusing his executive powers and his anti-gun advocates are turning up the volume on their propaganda campaign, there are a growing number of police chiefs and sheriffs across the country openly encouraging responsible gun owners to take up arms and saying for them to defend themselves. In a recent Fox News story, Polk County Florida Sheriff Grady Judd was quoted as saying that while it is his duty to protect the citizens he serves he is also saying it is important for them to also protect themselves.
Judd told Fox News he believes guns allow citizens to defend themselves when police cannot, and said, “If you are foolish enough to break into someoneʼs home, you can expect to be shot in Polk County.” Sheriff Judd said this in a statement after a homeowner shot a wouldbe home invader earlier this month.
“Itʼs more important to have a gun in your hand than a cop on the phone,” the sheriff said.
Let us make it clear that such strong support for the Second Amendment isnʼt confined to just “red” states like Florida.
For example, Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke told Fox, “I want as many law-abiding citizens to arm themselves in this county as we can get.”
One California police chief is even backing teachers in his district carrying a weapon. A Maryland sheriff is working with the stateʼs general assembly to try to make it easier for citizens to obtain handgun permits.
Bear in mind, that California is one of the toughest states in the country for citizens to obtain a gun and has some of the strongest anti-gun laws.
In the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violenceʼs most recent ranking of states with the strongest gun laws, California ranks first, Maryland is fourth and Michigan is 15th.
Some gun rights advocates say terror attacks at home and abroad have contributed to a change in attitudes about gun ownership among community members and authorities, even in locales historically hostile toward the Second Amendment, according to Fox News.
“That has helped play into it, and thereʼs no doubt the active shooter scenario has, too,” said Alan Gottlieb, founder of the Second Amendment Foundation. “Youʼre seeing people say, ʻHow do you respond?ʼ” Garvin County Sheriff Larry Rhodes announced his office would waive all sheriffs fees ties to getting gun license, according to the Oklahoma Sheriffʼs Association.
Historically, sheriffs have been very pro-gun rights,” Gottlieb told Fox News. “But theyʼve stepped out of the box and theyʼre now publicly making it known that firearms are good for self-defense.”
In Oklahoma, Garvin County Sheriff Larry Rhodes and Creek County Sheriff John Davis have each recently reduced costs associated with getting a gun license. Davis is also keeping administrative offices open longer on weekends to allow more people to apply.
“As a result of the ever-increasing violence being committed upon the American citizens and the current state of our country. I encourage each citizens of Creek County who is legally able to fully utilize their second Amendment right ʻto keep and bear arms.ʼ, as legally prescribed by the Oklahoma Defense Act,” Davis said in a statement.
These stories and many others can be told but you would never know it based on how the major liberal media downplays pro-gun supporters.
As hard as the liberal media is jumping on board with the Obama anti-gun agenda the fact of the matter is that the majority of Americans arenʼt buying into it, including major law enforcement officials.
