Sheriff Urges Citizen Firearm Defense: Were Partners Nowyour safety its no longer a spectator sport; I need you in the game. But are you ready? But are you prepared? Its your duty to protect yourself and your family, he says. He sends both the personal responsibility and power back to the people. Were partners now. Can I count on you? The ad drew sharp flakand calls for resignation from anti-violence groups (so they want to protect criminal violence?), other officials and even Roy Felber, president of the Milwaukee Deputy Sheriffs Association said it sounded like a call to vigilantism. Seriously? When a criminal busts into your home armed to do harm, is protecting your family the same as what Charles Bronson did in Death Wish? Then Felber said: Translation: people should not take responsibility for their own protection, they do not have a right to defend themselves. Calling self-defense the same as taking the law into our own hands doesnt seem logical. Clarke wanted people to know their options; and there is already a Castle Doctrine in Wisconsin that upholds self defense from home, car and business intruders. What seems like common sense to many, the interviews and so-called controversy compelled Clarke to clarify,Im not telling you to Hey, pick up a gun and blast away. People need to know what they are doing if they choose that method to defend themselves. Having to lay off 48 deputies caused him to rethink responsibility and the increasing burden on the countys law enforcement. He wants law enforcement to be seen realistically as help to those who are already taking responsibility for their safety. He says: Im here to do my part, but we have fewer and fewer resources. Were not omnipresent, and we have to stop giving people that impression. The public is his untapped reserve. Other officers claim there are lower crime rates, no layoffs, and they feel that the message makes the public fearful that there is a cop shortage. The mayor wants more money to hire more law enforcement. Even Sheriff Clarkesspokesperson claimed he never promoted buying guns in the ad and said the Department of Homeland Security advises that in an active shooter environment, victims should run, hide, or, if those options dont exist, they should fight aggressively.While opponents claim public fear-rousing, it appears Clarke intended to empower citizens. The ad has also resonated positively with a lot of people maybe thats because of the increasing number of sheriffs stepping up to serve and protect the Constitution and the People. More are reaching out to their local sheriffs to encourage them as our last line of defense against tyranny. Instead of leaving us wondering if we can count on him; Sheriff David Clarke has made the first move reaching out to let us know were partners now can he count on us? Text from Clarkes message: Email him your support:sheriff@milwcnty.com Read other articles by Amanda Warren Here 