This morning on Fox and Friends, Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke, Jr. gave an interview regarding his recent ad encouraging local citizens to be prepared should any crime be perpetrated against them
His first emphasis was to take a safety course in the proper use of firearms.
There is a huge responsibly for any family who decides to place a firearm in a home especially where there are children. Many are feeling the necessity to protect themselves and their families since crime is on the increase and available police officers are on the decrease.
Also, gun ownership is more than just purchasing a weapon. Owners need to gain knowledge and experience in the effective use and handling of firearms. There are too many incidents where a gun in the home is used to commit a crime; and far too many children are killed by guns that were not properly secured.
The sheriff had recently released a radio ad urging residents to learn how to protect themselves and their families while waiting for the 911 response.
He indicated that there had been huge cutbacks in police officers needed to respond. He indicated that some had been laid off for lack of funds, while others had their man hours reduced.
The sheriff released the radio ad urging Milwaukee-area residents to learn to handle firearms so they could defend themselves while waiting for police. He said Friday that law enforcement cutbacks have changed the way police can respond to crime.
He was quoted as saying. "With officers laid off and furloughed, simply calling 911 and waiting is no longer your best option," he adds. "You can beg for mercy from a violent criminal, hide under the bed, or you can fight back. ... Consider taking a certified safety course in handling a firearm so you can defend yourself until we get there."
A recent case here in Georgia indicated how having a gun and knowing how to use it, saved the lives of a mother and her children. She was hiding from the intruder in a secluded attic room when he began using a crow bar to tear into the door. She was on the phone with her husband and he told her to shoot him. She did; and saved their lives.
Sheriff Clarke’s statements are not without criticism. Roy Felber of the Sheriffs’ Association said that he did not feel that was a smart move and that it sounded to him like a call to vigilantism.
The Fox News report goes on to report:
“Under Wisconsin's "castle doctrine," someone who uses deadly force against an unlawful intruder to their home, business or vehicle is presumed to have acted reasonably. A spokeswoman for the state Department of Justice said that as of this week, there are about 155,000 concealed carry permits in Wisconsin.”
In an interview with The Associated Press, Clarke said he just wants people to know what their options are. While self-defense isn't for everyone, some people see personal safety as their own responsibility, he said, and they should be trained properly.
"I'm not telling you to `Hey, pick up a gun and blast away.' ... People need to know what they are doing if they chose that method -- to defend themselves," he said.
But he also said he wanted to call on residents to be law enforcement "partners." He said he could either whine about budget cuts that forced him to lay off 48 deputies last year or he could get creative.
"People are responsible to play a role in their own safety, with the help of law enforcement," Clarke said. "I'm here to do my part, but we have fewer and fewer resources. We're not omnipresent, and we have to stop giving people that impression."
"After sitting down and thinking about this, I'm thinking `Hey, I've got an untapped reserve over here, and it's the public,"' Clarke said.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett's office released a statement criticizing the ad: "Apparently Sheriff David Clarke is auditioning for the next Dirty Harry movie."
Barrett was beaten up several years ago by someone with a tire iron, and Clarke said he thought that would make the mayor "a lot more sensitive to people being able to defend themselves in such instances.
A firearm and a plan of defense would have come in handy for him that day."
Jeri Bonavia, executive director of Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort, said Clarke took a dangerous position with his ad. She pointed to the case of George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer in Florida who fatally shot an unarmed 17-year-old following an altercation. Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, claiming self-defense under Florida's "stand your ground" law.
"I feel like this is such an irresponsible thing for our chief public safety officer of a county to do," Bonavia said. "I think he owes this community an apology. And if he really believes that he's not capable of providing for our public safety he should get a different job."
What do you think? If people are going to be gun owners – and they are – shouldn't they be properly trained since a gun in the home can be as bad as an intruder? Shouldn't gun safety be offered to those who want to learn how to properly own, store, and use a gun? Would government sponsored safety classes be a method whereby gun owners would be documented?
Shouldn't cities and towns put staffing of law enforcement above all else for the protection their citizens?
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