by TGM staff
Sheriff Jimmy Harris. (WHNT-Channel 19 photo)
In at least one noteworthy law enforcement response to the July 16 Chattanooga, TN, shooting, neighboring DeKalb County, AL, Sheriff Jimmy Harris has changed the off-duty gun policy at his office and urged all citizens to get firearms training and be prepared to protect themselves, according to WAAYTV in Huntsville and other news outlets.
Harris said throughout his career in law enforcement, he never expected the country would be so steeped in violence and because of that he is working to secure funding to buy a firearm for every certified deputy to carry a concealed weapon on his person 24/7.
In a public letter explaining the reasons for his decision, the sheriff also said this is a time for all citizens to make sure they are prepared to protect themselves and to get firearms training.
In his letter, Harris wrote:
“After spending more than 25 years in Law Enforcement and in my 3rd term as Sheriff I never imagined our Country would be in the violent state it is in now.
“When I was a 3rd grader at Hatton Elementary School in Laurence County Alabama Sheriff Harold Richards was elected to his 1st term as Sheriff. His wife Doris Harper Richards was my dad’s, Korl Harris, 1st cousin. We moved around all over the state of Alabama. When we would come visit DeKalb County we would always go see my Grandparents and Sheriff Richards and Doris. From those days forward I knew who I wanted to be. Sheriff Richards had such a great laid back approach with everyone he came in contact with, regardless if he was making an arrest, going fishing or riding horses with his friends. As a little boy he allowed me to ride in his Sheriff’s car almost every time we came to DeKalb County. When I was in the 11th grade at Butler High School in Huntsville we moved to DeKalb. After Graduating from Geraldine High School I went to work at Monsanto in Guntersville. About a year after I started Monsanto, Sheriff Richards offered for me to come to work for him at the Sheriff’s Office, but the pay difference was so great I couldn’t afford to quit. Almost 10 years later I did get my opportunity to go to work for Sheriff Richards. I have not regretted a minute of it. I say all of that to say this.
“The world is in a state of disarray and the United States is going down fast. We are losing everything that our Founding fathers based this Country on. Until last week almost all the bad terrorist or mass shootings were somewhere else and now they are in our backyard. Chattanooga, TN, is only about 35 minutes away from the DeKalb County line. As Sheriff I receive sensitive information from all over the United States almost on a monthly basis. I called a supervisor meeting last Friday to change the policy on our firearms. We are trying to raise the money now to buy every Certified Deputy a backup weapon to carry concealed on his person everywhere he goes. When people can walk into schools, movie theatres, recruiting stations ext. and pull a gun it’s time for all of us law abiding citizens to take a look at how we protect ourselves, family and friends. This Country is based on God, guns, and the right to protect ourselves. I think as Sheriff it is my place to protect the safety and security of our citizens. And help citizens in ways to protect their selves and their families.
“When we have laws that will not allow our military personnel to wear a weapon on this soil that leaves them wide open and unable to protect themselves. 25 years or more when this law was written it wasn’t needed then and is surely not needed now. I ask each and every one of you to take a look at how you are prepared to protect yourself. If you are not prepared, it is time that you get self-defense training or firearms training. As a Christian I ask you to put your faith in God, and as a lifetime NRA member it is time you learn to protect yourself by learning the proper and safe ways to handle a weapon.
“They are saying this terrorist in Chattanooga was a lone wolf. You do not have to be a member of ISIS to belong to their terrorist organization. You just have to believe the way they do and carry out deadly attacks against U.S. citizens. This doesn’t make them a lone wolf, it makes them a pack of wolfs. This is what makes them so dangerous. We not only have ISIS we have different Drug cartels that travel Interstate 59, Highway 11 and Highway 117 almost on a weekly bases. With all of these threats I ask you to be observant of your surroundings and be prepared to protect you and your family. Please report anything out of the ordinary to the Sheriff’s Office or your local Police Department.”
