Nice Sheriff

I knew about the article from the chatter on the local email lists but hadn’t actually seen it because the Lewiston Morning Tribune doesn’t have free access. But thanks to Uncle I found the AP version of the story. Here is the gist of the story:

MOSCOW, Idaho (AP) – The sheriff of a north-central Idaho county where a shooting rampage left four dead and three wounded last May wants more people to obtain concealed weapons permits and carry guns, including on the University of Idaho campus, to improve public safety.

“In my opinion, if there were more students with (concealed weapons permits), the world would be safer,” Latah County Sheriff Wayne Rausch told the Lewiston Tribune on Tuesday. “Just because we (law enforcement officers) are charged with protecting the public, doesn’t mean the public shouldn’t be able to protect itself.”

And the most memorable part of the story:

“When seconds count, the cops are only minutes away,” David Klingenberg, 36, told the meeting. “I carry a gun because a cop is too heavy.”

David was the Secretary/Treasurer of the now defunct Palouse Practical Shooters. The PPS range and functions have been taken over by the Lewiston Pistol Club and David shot at a couple LPC IPSC matches (here and here).

Also related is that the Lewiston Morning Tribune currently has a poll up, “Should private citizens be allowed to carry guns into public buildings?“. You might want to participate.

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