Wis. sheriff urges residents to get gun training

A sheriff who released a radio ad urging Milwaukee-area residents to learn to handle firearms so they can defend themselves while waiting for police said Friday that law enforcement cutbacks have changed the way police can respond to crime.

In the 30-second commercial, Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke Jr. says personal safety is no longer a spectator sport.

"I need you in the game," he says.

"With officers laid off and furloughed, simply calling 911 and waiting is no longer your best option," he adds. "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 ad has generated sharp criticism from other area officials and anti-violence advocates. The president of the Milwaukee Deputy Sheriffs' Association, Roy Felber, said it sounds like a call to vigilantism.

• Mark Kelly, NRA's Wayne LaPierre to testify at Senate gun hearing
• Conn. official: Don't make schools armed fortresses
• Lawmakers unveil bill to ban assault weapons

"That doesn't sound too smart," Felber said. "People have the right to defend themselves, but they don't have the right to take the law into their own hands."

Under Wisconsin's "castle doctrine," someone who uses deadly force against an unlawful intruder to their home, business or vehicle is presumed to have acted reasonably. A spokeswoman for the state Department of Justice said that as of this week, there are about 155,000 concealed carry permits in Wisconsin.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Clarke said he just wants people to know what their options are. While self-defense isn't for everyone, some people see personal safety as their own responsibility, he said, and they should be trained properly.

"I'm not telling you to `Hey, pick up a gun and blast away.' ... People need to know what they are doing if they chose that method — to defend themselves," he said.

But he also said he wanted to call on residents to be law enforcement "partners." He said he could either whine about budget cuts that forced him to lay off 48 deputies last year or he could get creative.

"People are responsible to play a role in their own safety, with the help of law enforcement," Clarke said. "I'm here to do my part, but we have fewer and fewer resources. We're not omnipresent, and we have to stop giving people that impression."

"After sitting down and thinking about this, I'm thinking `Hey, I've got an untapped reserve over here, and it's the public,"' Clarke said.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett's office released a statement criticizing the ad: "Apparently Sheriff David Clarke is auditioning for the next Dirty Harry movie."

Barrett was beaten up several years ago by someone with a tire iron, and Clarke said he thought that would make the mayor "a lot more sensitive to people being able to defend themselves in such instances. A firearm and a plan of defense would have come in handy for him that day."

Jeri Bonavia, executive director of Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort, said Clarke took a dangerous position with his ad. She pointed to the case of George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer in Florida who fatally shot an unarmed 17-year-old following an altercation. Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, claiming self-defense under Florida's "stand your ground" law.

"I feel like this is such an irresponsible thing for our chief public safety officer of a county to do," Bonavia said. "I think he owes this community an apology. And if he really believes that he's not capable of providing for our public safety he should get a different job."

[cabincowboy]

Jeri Bonavia is the person being irresponsible if she thinks the sheriff's department can offer her immediately provide her with "public safety". Law enforcement makes every effort to respond to emergency situations as soon as possible; the fact is the situation will likely be over when they arrive. We need to take responsible action to protect our lives and the lives of our family should any situation require use of force, a firearm is the best tool, (the same tool the police use), during deadly or dangerous encounters. It is the gun owners responibility to keep their weapon safe, ready, and be proficient in it's use; if they are not able to do this they should not own a gun. They can do what the police in Britton do: say "stop, or I'll say stop again".

[skeezix06]

And how many times have you had to shoot at anyone in defense of your family?

Right. I thought so.

[lollyikens]

The Sheriff's ad to me is fueling histeria. It starts with a few getting getting afraid and then it showballs. Sure you should be able to protect your family but the police should be able to do this. I agree with one commenter that said how will the police know if you are the criminal or the resident if you are armed and there is confusion at the scene.

I hope that outraged citizens will demand more funding for more officers. This should be a number one priority. There has to be a way he can get more officers and not put this on the public. This is the officers responsiblity to respond to dangerous situation.

[hypnotoad72]

He calls it a "game".

What a mentality Americans have...

[Lindag20]

Although I agree with the premise that people should get training if they choose to use a firearm to protect themselves and/or their property, I do feel he's suggesting that the police WON'T respond if called and that can lead to a vigilante frame of mind in the residents.

[jimbom121]

That's how I took his comments.

[stamicrach]

What are you on lady.?

This man is suggesting no such thing.!!

What he is trying to get across to you and the rest of the populations is that the police cannot respond as quickly as they have in the past. because their numbers have been steadily diminished due to budget cutbacks.

Crime rates continue to go up while the number of available police goes down.

Please advise if you cannot understand this explanation.

[pendulumswings]

The problem is what happens if a group of these trained gun owners decide to go on the offensive. Maybe they want to take over the block, or the town, or the state. That is why I think the government should allow ordinary citizens to own and carry nuclear weapons. It's our only real defense from attack.

[Lindag20]

Wow!! And I just wanted some grenades and a drone. You think BIG.

[cabincowboy]

I do the same thing, when I can't make a sensable comment, I say something so illogical that it has no significance and offers no wisdom at all. How heavy is your nuclear weapon, can you carry it in your pocket?

[marine1957]

This sheriff is a wise man and worthy of giving good advice based upon his experience in his profession.

Compare this sheriff's works to the works of a judge who just overturned the conviction of a jerk who was taking pictures up the dresses of ladies AND teen girls. The judge said the man was not doing it for sexual gratification.

[skeezix06]

If he's not protecting the public then he isn't doing his job. You can argue whether it's his fault for not being able to manage or whether its the public's fault for not giving him enough in his budget to do his job but the bottom line is that he isn't doing his job if he's telling people to arm themselves. I might add he's not doing his deputies any favor either. How are they supposed to know whether the person holding a gun is the resident or the crook?

Besides, think of all the money you guys could save if you just eliminated the entire sheriff's department; salaries, weapons, uniforms, cars, gas, benefits. Hey. Maybe you could eliminate crime by simply making all crimes legal.

[marine1957]

@SKEEZIX06
The sheriff is protecting the public by good advice when his department is stretched too thin, thereby doing a better job!

[skeezix06]

No. He isn't doing a good job. He's announced that he is not able to do his job. And if I wanted to use the NRA defense during the newspaper dustup, I would say that he announced to one and all criminals that the town he's sheriff of is now identified on the internet and ripe for theft and all sorts of criminal activity.

[judymar14]

He, like anyone else in this country with common sense gets bashed in the media. "When you need a cop in seconds he is minutes away". Why can't that statement be blasted over the media?

[rwsmith29456]

What difference does it make that he's got a large or small police force? Either way with a home invasion you are on your own until the police arrive. I would hate to have to live my life knowing that I had killed or injured somebody, but I would hate it a lot more to have me or members of my family hurt or killed.

[atomant59]

If you are going to have a gun, you should have training. It should be required to purchase a waepon.

[nearl451]

yeah TIME and TV sets.

Except that there aren't a lot of people killed with those appliances.

[Rafterman11]

The bigger question is, why are cops being laid off? Stop corporate welfare and tax giveaways to the richest and spend tax dollars where its needed - for police, fire and infrastructure.

[nearl451]

State and city budget cuts.

[jimbom121]

Scott Walker needed to cut the budget for tax cuts.