Crime & Safety

Speak Out: Should All 'Law Abiding' Citizens' Arm Themselves?

Gwinnett County Sheriff Butch Conway posts a statement in response to emails. Share your thoughts.

Adding to the local and national discussion on guns, Gwinnett Sheriff Butch Conway has released a statement in support of citizens' right to legally use firearms.

"I encourage all law abiding citizens to acquire and maintain the skills to safely carry a firearm in order to protect themselves and others," the statement reads.

Conway issued the statement under the heading 'The 2nd Amendment." The U.S Constitution's Second Amendment says, "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

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Also, it was in response to "the many emails received," the website says. The statement comes just over a month after the December 14, 2012, shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., that killed 20 students and six adults.

"Sadly, our society contains those that will harm others when given the opportunity. An armed citizen certainly presents much less opportunity to those that would do them harm," Conway's statement concluded.

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Speak out: How do you feel about Sheriff Conway's statement? Is his stance part of the solution or part of the problem?


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