If--God forbid--you find yourself in the middle of a terrorist attack, what would make you feel safer: knowing that local law-enforcement were on their way or knowing that there was an armed citizen at the scene?
Sheriff Wayne Ivey of Brevard County, Fla. thinks the second option is way more assuring. His department created a short video calling on citizens to arm themselves, and not just with knowledge.
“Let me be perfectly clear, doing nothing or just hoping it won’t happen to you is not going to save your life,” Ivey said. He encouraged Floridians of Brevard County to have a self-defense plan in place.
He called on those with concealed-carry permits to have their weapon with them and keep up the practice of using their firearm. He even invited people to take the sheriff department’s classes for tactical shooting.
For those without a firearm, Ivey encouraged citizens to consider an “intermediary weapon,” like a tazer, and to practice searching their surroundings for objects that could be used as weapons.
Recently, London police responded to the June London Bridge terror attacks by asking citizens to “run, hide and tell” a police officer when confronted with a terrorist. In the video, the “most politically incorrect” sheriff made it pretty clear what he thought about this strategy:
Yesterday I saw a news story that in other parts of the world they are telling citizens that if they are attacked to run hide and tell. Really? Coaching citizens that the best way to save their life or the life of a family member, coworker, or friend is to run, hide, and tell? What’s next? Asking you to run, hide, and draw a line in the sand while daring the cold-blooded murderer to cross it? Not here.
Of course, Ivey’s video received plenty of backlash on social media. Here are a few gems:
As the sheriff says in the video, terrorist attacks are unfortunately becoming common occurrence. Would you rather “run, hide and tell” or be prepared to fight back?
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