In the face of rising violent crime in his local area, one sheriff in Oklahoma has a message for residents of his county: get a gun and know how to use it.
Sheriff Terry Park recently won re-election as the top cop in Choctaw County, but he knows that law enforcement alone can’t stop every crime in the area. That’s why he took to Facebook just a few days ago with advice for residents in the area.
IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA THERE SEEMS TO BE A SLIGHT INCREASE IN HOMICIDES AN A HOME INVASION SOUTH OF HUGO. I ENCOURAGE ONE TO USE THEIR SECOND AMENDMENT. KNOW HOW TO USE YOUR FIREARM. MY INTENTION IS NOT TO CAUSE ONE TO PANIC BUT PAY ATTENTION AT HOME AND ALWAYS KNOW YOUR SURROUNDINGS OUT AND ABOUT. PUT UP SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS, EXTRA LIGHTING OUTSIDE, INSTALL SECURITY SYSTEMS IN YOUR HOMES.
Park went on to encourage residents to pick up a concealed carry application from the local courthouse in Hugo, Oklahoma, but since the state adopted constitutional carry in 2020, no license is needed in order for legal gun owners to carry openly or concealed.
The sheriff’s post generated quite a response, and virtually all of the comments have been supportive of Parks’ advice. In fact, I was surprised not to see at least one gun control advocate trying to shame the sheriff for his recommendations, but I guess there’s a reason why Moms Demand Action doesn’t have a southeastern Oklahoma chapter.
Of course Parks’ advice isn’t just applicable for Okies. Whether you live in a rural setting like Choctaw County, Oklahoma; a quiet suburb; or the big city, the sheriff’s advice is solid. Crime can strike anywhere, but there are steps that we can take to mitigate the risk of being a victim as well as increase our odds of surviving an encounter with a dangerous criminal in our home or out in public, and that includes exercising your Second Amendment rights. I applaud the sheriff for his public stance, and if more Americans follow his advice I have a feeling that the crime rate in the new year will look a lot better than what 2020 delivered.
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