Sheriff Calls Gun Laws 'Height of Insanity'

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.

[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.

[oldbasicgal]

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

[myth1958]

Any time a public figure even talks about limiting guns in our society, the 'unlimited gun rights' folks decry them as ...well, communists, etc., etc. How come we can regulate dangerous things such as nuclear power, automobiles and hunting seasons, but any whiff of sensibility around gun possession - say not letting mentally ill people get hold of them so easily - and we're one step from Moscow? There's more control around meat, eggs and liquor in this country (so we don't kill ourselves on spoiled products) than around guns and ammunition which literally kill folks in every state, every day, year after year. This is an intentional blind spot in the national consciousness. We don't have 'unlimited' free speech. We can't drive a car on public streets without regulation. Why can we buy, load and shoot weapons without the tiniest bit of restraint? Because even talking about it - just talking - gets you branded one step from Moscow. **** sapiens got along for most of 200,000 years without gunpowder or the receptacles for it. If only Neanderthals had guns...they'd be extinct, too.

[incog-nito]

In Arizona, people can carry concealed handguns to bars, banks, etc. Yet nunchucks are banned because they're too "dangerous". Go figure.

[buxton44]

The Sheriff is correct about the retoric that has been used in the last two years of politics and that played a part in the Shootings. People who tell half truths or no truth at all about politicians need to take responsibility for their actions. If You really hate someone then say I hate You to his or her face or write an email or letter to that fact and sign you name to the statement. If You do not like the bill being passed then come up with a change to Your representatives before passage. Most Senators and Representatives do not get any feedback, mail or anything but the people always complain to their buddies, friends or relatives and do not act by sending a response to the people representing them. I hope that Katie Couric can continue to report the truth from people that are not afraid to tell the truth before being silenced by people with a different agenda. I looked at the statement below saying the posting of advertisements, profanity or personal attacks is prohibited. Maybe that is why Rush and Glen are not making any comments.

[hiccum]

Apparently free speech has to be demonstrated even more.
Exterminate the christian government.Congress is the enemy