IRRESPONSIBLE OR REALISTIC?

"I'm Sheriff David Clarke and I want to talk to you about something personal: your safety. It's no longer a spectator sport; I need you in the game. But are you ready? With officers laid off and furloughed, simply calling 911 and waiting is no longer your best option. You can beg for mercy from a violent criminal, hide under the bed, or you can fight back. But are you prepared? Consider taking a certified safety course in handling a firearm so you can defend yourself until we get there. You have a duty to protect yourself and your family."

So spoke the sheriff of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, a Democrat, on the radio in a recorded public safety announcement.

Outspoken liberals, gun control advocates and many police chiefs immediately pounced on Sheriff Clarke, calling his call to arms irresponsible. They also accused him of advocating vigilantism.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett’s reaction was to release this statement: "Apparently, Sheriff David Clarke is auditioning for the next Dirty Harry movie."

Not to be outdone, Clarke shot back at the mayor with this statement: "Several years ago, a tire-iron-wielding suspect beat Mayor Tom Barrett to within inches of his life. I would think that he would be 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." (In 2009, Barrett was calling 911 to report a fight when the suspect batted the phone out of his hand and nearly beat the mayor’s brains out.)

On December 17, following the Sandy Hook massacre, in an op-ed on the website Tea Party Perspective, Clarke said liberals were shameful “for exploiting tragedy once again in our country and try to use tragedy as a reason to take our rights away.” Clarke also said gun control advocates were “sheep” and called for "an armed tactical trained officer or security officer in every school and public place in America."

Clarke, an African-American, is obviously not in step on guns with his fellow Democrats.

Prior to being appointed sheriff by Wisconsin’s governor, Clarke had a distinguished career as a patrol officer, detective and command officer with the Milwaukee Police Department.

So, was Sheriff Clarke irresponsible or realistic when he called on the people in Milwaukee County to arm themselves? To answer that question, think about this: When seconds count, the police are only minutes away … in some cases 10, 20 or more minutes away.