I come home from school, turn on the local news and the first thing I hear is that my local Sheriff has urged residents who are licensed to carry a firearm to please do so.
I live in an area with a slew of gun owners. This man is an elected official and has posted his “appeal” to facebook:
December 3, 2015
ATTENTION LICENSED HANDGUN OWNERS
In light of recent events that have occurred in the United States and around the world I want to encourage citizens of Ulster County who are licensed to carry a firearm to PLEASE DO SO.
I urge you to responsibly take advantage of your legal right to carry a firearm. To ensure the safety of yourself and others, make sure you are comfortable and proficient with your weapon, and knowledgeable of the laws in New York State with regards to carrying a weapon and when it is legal to use it.
I also want to remind all Police/Peace Officers both active duty and retired to please carry a weapon whenever you leave your house. We are the thin blue line that is entrusted in keeping this country safe, and we must be prepared to act at any given moment.
Thank you,
Paul J. Van Blarcum Ulster County Sheriff
The story is being covered on CBS, and in many New York State papers. The Times Herald Record reports:
The message comes one day after 14 people were killed in San Bernardino, Calif., when at least two heavily armed attackers opened fire at a social services center for the disabled. More than a dozen others were injured, but the motives are still unclear.
Van Blarcum said that shooting sparked his comments, saying carrying a pistol is a personal choice, but in an active shooter situation "if you don't have a gun, you're useless."
"Look at all the mass shootings around, people are getting slaughtered and nobody has a gun," Van Blarcum said in an interview.
Wonderful. Just wonderful. Now my husband and I have to worry about more of our neighbors armed to the teeth in the mall. It's bad enough that we “look Muslim” and went through crap here after 9/11. Guess we have to put the American flags back on the cars.