Sheriff Calls Gun Laws 'Height of Insanity'

(CBS)  TUCSON, Ariz. -- One law enforcement official has been thrust into the national spotlight -- for some remarks he made following the shooting.

On Saturday, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, a Democrat, blamed the rampage in part on overheated political rhetoric, saying Arizona has become "a mecca for prejudice and bigotry."

Some Republicans have called his remarks irresponsible. CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric spoke with the Sheriff today and he's not backing down.

Sheriff Clarence Dupnik: If you are in law enforcement and you are not a right winger, you will get all kinds of heat from the right wing nuts.

Katie Couric: But some people would say you are overly-politicizing this situation. That it appears at this juncture, although it's unclear, that this was a lone, deranged individual that might not have been inspired to do this at all for political reasons.

Dupnik: We'll never know the answer to that because there's no way to get into the heart and soul of a person to find out what their true motive is. And second of all, we're dealing with a very troubled personality

Couric: You stand by what you said over the weekend.

Dupnik: I am not a political person, by nature. I've been a police officer my entire life. I had no agenda. But I was very, very angry. And I think that here are millions of people in this country that are very concerned about the tenor of things in this country particularly when it comes to politics.

Couric: How does this community heal?

Dupnik: I think this country needs to tone it down. When I was growing up, it was a different country.

Couric: There are also laws that allow you to take concealed or non-concealed weapons and carry them with you at all times. Is that correct?

Dupnik: That is absolutely correct. That's the height of insanity. I don't know what else they can do. Maybe they could pass a law that would require that every child have an Uzi in their crib.

[2sence]

in a sad way thank God this guy had a gun, this was an outdoor event. he could have used a motor vechicle an killed dozens. i guess then the dumb sheriff would want to have us all driving bicycles. the political babble wanting to stop the violent rhetoric is just that ego babble. they want you to believe that life imitates art (snicker, snicker). i thought that question was answered long ago, when we did away with censorship and decency. america has lost it's sense of decency, morality, justice, and most of all fear of God, period

[RedWings_ninety_one]

If guns are banned, then gun crimes will go up...not just shootings, but having them illegally in the first place..then if we are invaded, what happens to our last line of defense?...the rednecks who own 10 or 20 guns and can shoot. I have a friend who is 18 and says that he has ONLY 7 guns..he is kind of a redneck. I've said it before and I'll say it agian...guns are amoral meaning without moral, which means that they are neither good nor bad. It is the intentions of the individual with the gun who has moral be it good or bad. A gun is a thing, and things cannot be good or bad in themselves, but they can seem to be bad or good based on the individual who owns/uses said object....I dare someone to name a THING which is bad in itself...something that actually exists

[RedWings_ninety_one]

I agree with the Governor of Pennsylvania.."America has turned into a nation of wusses."

[govmess]

This man is dangerously delusional to say the least. If these are his verbal thoughts one can only imagine what is going on in his head when he isn't talking. His Democratic friends better keep an eye on him before his own vitriolic words cause him to go bananas.

[panola60]

Is the Sheriff referring to Chris Matthews fantasizing on air about seeing Rush Limbaugh shot in the head or Keith Olberamnn wishing Dick Cheney a speedy death instead of recovery.

Or perhaps he is referring to John Kerry saying on air "I could have gone to 1600 Pennsylvania and killed the real bird with one stone" or Barack Obama saying "They Bring a Knife. . . We will Bring a Gun", where the word "They" represents conservatives, both republican and blue dog democrats.

[legacyABQ2]

LOL that was funny; uzis in the crib.. Let's not engage in hyperbole now folks!

[scyeatts]

I'm very tempted to move to Arizona just so I can vote for this guy.

[wyodutch]

His half-witted distrust of his fellow citizens might work in Arizona, but I'll tell you... If he were a Wyoming sheriff who let his mouth over-ride his brain like that... He'd be run out of the county on a rail by nightfall.
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He should have had the guts to use gun-control and limited debate as part of his campaign platform when he ran for office... He did not, evidently fearing that to disclose his position before the election would have resulted in his defeat.
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He's 75 years old... let him retire quietly and make the liberal news interview circuit.

[oldbasicgal]

Yes, he is old and it is time for him to retire. His heart is not in his job any longer. He needs to step aside for someone who will put it first place in their life (right behind family, that is.)

[myth1958]

Dupnik for Governor! He's been a straight-talker about the gun issue, and even cast the 'hate speech' motivation for this sociopathic killer onto the public forum. He is right about insane gun laws in AZ - or rather the lack of any sane parameters. What IS next: Uzi's in kindergarten? When there are no laws to keep freaks like this killer from getting one, no one will be safe even if everyone is packing a gun on their belt. The argument that 'if we all carry a gun, we'll be safer' is not correct. If we all carry a gun, it will be like the wild west, with folks killing each other over parking spots and bad grades and votes in Congress which they don't agree on. Oh yeah: that's how it is now.

[ajvw]

when guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. I guess I'll keep mine and become an outlaw.

[terminator63]

That's right genius. Take the guns away from the law biding people and only the thugs will be armed. You look like a Liberal, smell like a Liberal, you are a Liberal. I'm so tired of you communists (Liberals) trying to destroy the country I fought for.

[legacyABQ2]

Well, OK, but remember, as of last friday, this guy WAS, by DEFINITION, a law-abiding citizen, was he not?

[oldbasicgal]

Actually, no. He had a record, per the news media, of about an inch thick.