NC Sheriff Tells Citizens to Carry Guns

Everyone knows that when seconds count, police are minutes away. You’d better be able to protect yourself in the meantime, and some peace officers are wise enough to tell people just that.

Unlike the 911 operator who repeatedly told an armed burglary victim to put down her gun, sheriff Larry Rollins of Harnett County, North Carolina is advising county residents to pick up their guns and carry them.

A local news station reported that recent weeks have seen increased violent crime in Rollins’ county, which he says is related to drug gangs. During a community meeting at a local church, the sheriff said that he keeps a gun with him at all times and advised others to do the same.

“I don’t go anywhere without a gun… I am going to protect myself and my family. I want my deputies at your house just as fast as they can when you got a problem, but you better be able to take care of business until we get there if you have to protect your family,” said Sheriff Larry Rollins

That sounds like very good advice, especially since a number of local residents expressed fear at just leaving their homes.

When it comes to guns, my father gave me some of the best advice: “A loaded gun is the finest insurance policy there is. You hope you never need to use it, I never want to have to shoot anybody, but that gun will be there if you ever do need it.

“It’s always better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.”

What do you think? Would you rather hide and wait for police or arm yourself in case of a face-off with an armed violent criminal?

Russ Chastain

Editor & Contributing Writer Russ Chastain is a lifelong hunter and shooter who has spent his life learning about hunting, shooting, guns, ammunition, gunsmithing, reloading, and bullet casting. He started toting his own gun in the woods at age nine and he's pursued deer with rifles since 1982, so his hunting knowledge has been growing for more than three and a half decades. His desire and ability to share this knowledge with others has also grown, and Russ has been professionally writing and editing original hunting & shooting content since 1998. Russ Chastain has a passion for sharing accurate, honest, interesting hunting & shooting knowledge and stories with people of all skill levels.