Originally published February 11 2013
Forget calling 911, says Sheriff: defend yourself with a gun instead
by J. D. Heyes
(NaturalNews) "There is nothing so foolish as to do more efficiently something that should no longer be done." That quote, attributed to David Osborne and Ted Gaebler, adorns the website of the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office.
It is a fitting quote, given the philosophy of the county sheriff, David A. Clarke, Jr., who recently said publicly that his constituents would be far better off if they bought and gun and learned how to use it to defend themselves rather than dial 9-1-1 and be victimized by bad guys while waiting for a deputy to show up from miles away.
In a radio ad he produced and his office released, Clarke urged residents to buy a weapon and take a firearms safety course because "calling 911 and waiting is no longer your best option."
Clarke went further during an interview with CNN's "Starting Point," in which he said there are certain times when calling law enforcement officers would "be of no use."
'Can I count on you?'
"There are certain situations - and I think most people get that - where 911 is going to be of no use," he said. "For instance, once the wolf is at the door, once the intruder is inside your home, once you're on the street and someone sticks a gun in your face to take your car or your wallet, you don't have the option of calling 911."
Continuing, Clarke said, "In those situations, there are certain things you can do to protect yourself."
Of his radio ad, he said, "It's a public safety message, and I'm just here to let the people know, give them the information as to what's going on, and to give them options, if you will, as to how to defend themselves in those situations."
In the ad, Clarke says:
I'm Sheriff David Clarke, and I want to talk to you about something personal...your safety. It's no longer a spectator sport; I need you in the game, but are you ready? With officers laid-off and furloughed, simply calling 911 and waiting is no longer your best option.
You can beg for mercy from a violent criminal, hide under the bed, or you can fight back; but are you prepared? Consider taking a certified safety course in handling a firearm so you can defend yourself until we get there. You have a duty to protect yourself and your family. We're partners now. Can I count on you?
Clarke's plea - that more Americans should defy the propagandists and dare to take more responsibility for their own safety and well-being - likely gave the personalities at CNN and elsewhere in the mainstream media heartburn, but it was exactly the right one to make. Americans should be taking primary responsibility for themselves, especially when it comes to protecting their own homes.
Most Milwaukee County residents seem to agree: A non-scientific poll taken by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper on Jan. 28 revealed that more than two-thirds of respondents - 69 percent - thought Clarke was right to call for citizens to arm themselves in self-defense.
Armed citizens equal force multipliers for police
Trained, armed law-abiding citizens act as force multipliers in a number of other ways as well. Here are some recent examples of armed civilians coming to the aid of police:
-- Jim Povia of Sarasota, Fla., was driving to work one morning when he saw a state trooper with his service weapon drawn, confronting a trio of male suspects during a traffic stop. Povia, who had a concealed carry permit, pulled over and grabbed his own handgun to go to the aid of the officer. Both men held the trio at bay until backup officers arrived; a gun was found in the rear of the driver's vehicle.
-- Travis Neel helped save the life of a wounded Harris County, Texas, deputy. After witnessing the shooting of the deputy by three Houston gang members after a traffic stop, Neel - on his way to a shooting range - stopped, pulled his weapon and fired on the gang members, driving them away. An off-duty deputy soon arrived as well; the trio was later captured.
-- Floridian Vincent McCarthy noticed a police officer struggling with a man and woman on the side of the road. Initially he attempted to help subdue the man who was kicking the downed officer in the face. Despite McCarthy's many warnings to stop, the perpetrator kept up his attack; McCarthy then shot him once in the leg with a handgun he is licensed to carry. Neither he nor the officer was seriously injured.
Sources:
http://www.politico.com
http://county.milwaukee.gov/OfficeoftheSheriff7719.htm
http://www.kc3.com/self_defense/officers_peril.htm
http://county.milwaukee.gov
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