Florida is home to one of the most out-spoken sheriffs in the nation and now Polk County sheriff, Grady Judd, is stirring the pot yet again. Sheriff Judd has issued a “Call to Arms” aimed at every person in the nation. The sheriff says not only do people have the right to be armed, they should be armed and prepared to use their weapon just in case they are ever faced with and active shooter situation.
Sheriff Judd pointed out that, “The armed assailant doesn’t plan on you fighting back. He plans on having a gun, doing all the shooting, and you’re just a sitting duck. Well, the ducks need to shoot back.”
The citizens of this country have always had the Constitutional right to carry a weapon to defend the lives and property of themselves and others, against all enemies both Foreign and Domestic. That means that citizens should have a concealed weapons permit and carry their gun with them whenever they can, according to Judd. But the sheriff also said it is the duty of every gun owner to “keep their skills sharp.”
If you’re just not a gun person, and there is no shame in that, Sheriff Grady Judd says you might consider another kind of weapon, like pepper spray or a Taser. Personally I find a collapsible steel baton to be a handy non-lethal personal defense weapon. They are cheap, effective, and extend at the flick of a wrist. Plus they have the advantage of not having to go to a gun range to practice with them.
But, as the Sheriff said, “If you’re not afraid of a gun, get one. And if you need to shoot somebody, shoot ‘em a lot.” Generally, you don’t stop firing until the gun is empty.
Not surprisingly, Judd is in agreement with Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, who posted the same message on Facebook. But that should not be too surprising. A poll of Florida Sheriffs would quickly tell you that almost all of the sheriff’s in the state not only support personal gun ownership, they encourage it.
But Sheriff Judd is doing more than talking the talk. He is walking the walk. While Florida is a CCW state, there are still a few places you are not allowed to carry your weapon. One of those places is on a school campus. But a few months ago, Sheriff Judd launched a first-of-its-kind program designed to fill a void in the states security. He is training staffers at Southeastern University to shoot.
Under the Polk County plan, If an active shooter comes on campus, any staffers that have completed the sheriffs course are automatically deputized and empowered to take whatever action they feel is necessary to protect themselves and their students. That means that they can do what they have been trained to do.
Sassy Liberty