In Brevard County, Florida, Sheriff Wayne Ivey has made a name for himself as being “one of the most politically incorrect” people in law enforcement. And by his own admission, he’s fine with that. But he’s drawn national attention for a new video which his department released this month, encouraging people to arm themselves and learn how to fight to protect their own lives and families in the event of a spontaneous terror attack such as we’ve been seeing around the globe. It’s about six minutes long and is quite well produced, so give it a look.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8P-8fut5no

Despite what you’ll see in the various media attacks being launched against him, Ivey isn’t foaming at the mouth or spouting conspiracy theories. Nor is he encouraging anyone to break the law or do things they aren’t personally comfortable with. He’s simply reminding citizens that the cops can’t be everywhere at once and sometimes it takes time for them to respond to reports of an attack. That delay may cost you your life or that of your loved ones if you aren’t able to defend yourself.

Ivey ranges all over the place in defense of his position, citing everything from news coverage of actual terror attacks using low tech weaponry to quotes from Sun Tzu’s Art of War. (“Every battle is won or lost before it’s ever begun.”) He encourages those with concealed carry permits to have their weapons on their person at all times where legally allowed. (Your firearm isn’t going to do you any good at home when you’re out of the house.) But for those who choose not to keep firearms, he asks them to get training on how to use other forms of weaponry ranging from tasers to golf clubs to chairs or even fire extinguishers.

That sort of advice should be the type of common sense which most everyone can get behind, right? Who are we kidding. People are tearing him apart over it. (Daily Mail)

The video attracted a barrage of both positive and negative comments on Facebook, although many criticized the sheriff for exaggerating the level of threat and spreading fear.

One commenter wrote: ‘How is this helpful? The point of terrorism is to scare people and get a panicked response from them, to disrupt their everyday lives with anxiety.

‘You are doing far more harm than good by trying to get everyone armed and on edge. ‘

And as usual, you won’t need to look very far to find the same sentiments (and worse) on social media.

https://twitter.com/d_gill88/status/873723559818014720

That was predictable, I suppose. Even if he’s not insisting everyone have guns, the anti-gun groups can’t stand to hear about anyone suggesting fighting back. Sheriff Ivey seems to have clear eyes when it comes to the possibility of an attack by jihadist forces, but not quite so much when it comes to the home front. Perhaps he should have kept one other old adage from Sun Tzu in mind. “If you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles… if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle.”