Sheriff Encourages Self-Defense

28 January 2013

A Sheriff in the Milwaukee area, has publicly encouraged citizens to arm themselves.  He boldly noted that police are too far away when criminals are assaulting a citizen.  His position is rather straightforward, though more bold than most politicians are noted for.

"With officers laid off and furloughed, simply calling 911 and waiting is no longer your best option," he [the Sheriff] said in the ad. "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."

The mayor of Milwaukee does not seem to like the Sheriff's advice.  His office made a snide statement, "Apparently Sheriff David Clarke is auditioning for the next Dirty Harry movie."

Another criticism was, "The president of the Milwaukee Deputy Sheriffs' Association, Roy Felber, said it sounds like a call to vigilantism." 

Mr. Felber obviously missed the point.  The sheriff did not encourage folks to go hunting for badguys.  He merely encouraged taking training with a weapon so that the would-be victim would not be defenseless against an aggressor.  He never advocated seeking out badguys.

The mentality that advocates that one is morally superior by dying instead of lifting a finger to defend oneself is the same mentality that got two airplanes rammed into the skyscrapers in New York City.  The standard practice back then was to not resist armed aggressors.  Please note, dear reader, that such policy has changed for reacting to violent takeover of airplanes.

While no private individual has the right to initiate violence (that right is reserved for governments), the individual absolutely has the right to defend himself or herself with violence.