Ulster Co. Sheriff Calls for Licensed Citizens to Take Up Arms

In the wake of San Bernardino, a call to arms from Ulster County Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum is causing a local furor, the Times Herald-Record reports.

Here’s his post on the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page:

ATTENTION LICENSED HANDGUN OWNERS

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.

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.

I also want to remind all Police/Peace Officers both active duty and retired to please carry a weapon whenever you leave your house. We are the thin blue line that is entrusted in keeping this country safe, and we must be prepared to act at any given moment.

Thank you,

Paul J. Van Blarcum

Ulster County Sheriff

The reactions have been swift and varied. Some of them are thoughtful, some of them are demonizing people with different points of view.

Here are two of the comments on Blarcum’s post:

Christina Elston Gallagher said, “I’m not anti-gun by any means, but I do feel like simply having a gun permit does not necessarily make you equipped to handle a fire arm in a real-life active shooter situation. Not to mention the fact that if cops show up to a scene like what happened yesterday in San Bernadino (lots of people injured, confusion and chaos) and see a bunch of of civilians with guns drawn how are they to differentiate between the criminal and the person defending themselves? Have a legally owned gun if you want one, but this statement coming from law enforcement seems irresponsible.”

But William C Giles said, “I can not believe how many people here have posted stupid liberal responses !

“The fact that there are educated legal firearm owners that carry in this nation is the only positive point that we haven’t been overrun yet by evil criminals, and terrorists !

“Clue # 1 it’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better, And the police are just one facet of protection, A firearm in the hand of a trained marksmen is worth 10 officers on the phone, You people think you live in utopia, You don’t, get real, radical Muslims have one intent, and that is to take over the world !

“You sheep will be slaughtered cowering for your life, the field must be leveled by having every law abiding citizen willing to give, OR take a life to protect the innocent,...
“Wake up n look around, there is not a law on the books that will prevent what is happening, evil must be stopped one situation at a time, You can lock your doors, but people must socialize, and that’s when evil of this magnitude strike,...
“Live free, or die !!!”

And Joan Lawrence-Bauer said, “Mr. Van Blarcum. If you and your staff can not protect county residents adequately without begging armed civilians to get out there and do it for you, then I think it’s time for a new Sheriff.”

But Christopher Pulichene said, “Thank you Mr. Van Blarcum you are a great Sheriff, Ulster County is lucky to have you serving!”

What do you think of his post and those responses? Tell us in below in our comments section.