In Israel, as the Knife Intifada was in full swing in early October, the Mayor of Jerusalem urged those with gun permits to carry for defense of themselves and others against random and surprise attacks.
It was a variation on the theme, “when seconds count, the police are only minutes away.”
Now a Sheriff in Ulster County, NY, north of New York City, has urged residents to do the same in light of recent terror attacks like that in San Bernardino.
The local CBS News affiliate reports:
All licensed handgun owners in Ulster County should carry their pistols.That’s the message Thursday from the Ulster County Sheriff.Ulster County is located about two hours north of New York City.“In light of recent events that have occurred in the United States and around the world I want to encourage citizens of Ulster County who are licensed to carry a firearm to please do so,” wrote Sheriff Paul J. Van Blarcum in a Facebook post. “I urge you to responsibly take advantage of your legal right to carry a firearm. To ensure the safety of yourself and others, make sure you are comfortable and proficient with your weapon, and knowledgeable of the laws in New York State with regards to carrying a weapon and when it is legal to use it.
Here is the image of the Facebook post, posted just before noon today:
In an interview with a local paper, the Sheriff made clear that the San Bernardino shooting motivated his appeal for people to carry:
Van Blarcum said that shooting sparked his comments, saying carrying a pistol is a personal choice, but in an active shooter situation “if you don’t have a gun, you’re useless.””Look at all the mass shootings around, people are getting slaughtered and nobody has a gun,” Van Blarcum said in an interview.
The comments to the announcement are mixed. Here is a sample:
There must be particular unhappiness in Woodstock, NY, which is in Ulster County. (It’s not where the Woodstock festival was held, which was in Bethel in Sullivan County, but it is an uber-liberal place with a fair number of aging hippies.)
Legal Insurrection reader SG Lawrence, who is very familiar with the area, notes that Woodstock “Has More Co-Exist Bumper Stickered Priuses Than Anywhere”:
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