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Gun-control battle pits sheriff vs. police chief
Stark warning: Don't count on rapid response to 9-1-1 calls
WND
Garth Kant
3/7/2013
Excerpt:
A war of words between Milwaukee’s two top cops over Second Amendment rights has gone national, and now it’s getting personal.
Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. is using public service announcements to encourage residents to arm themselves because of a soaring violent-crime rate.
Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn says Clarke is just seeking attention and trying to boost his reelection efforts. Flynn has criticized Republicans in Congress and gun groups for opposing new firearms restrictions.
But even the Huffington Post finds Flynn over-the-top when it comes to gun control. HuffPo notes that a few years ago, Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen affirmed that state residents were legally permitted to openly carry a gun in public.
Flynn responded, “My message to my troops is if you see anybody carrying a gun on the streets of Milwaukee, we’ll put them on the ground, take the gun away and then decide whether you have a right to carry it.”
The police chief was just as aggressive at a Senate judiciary hearing last week. He testified in support of an “assault weapons” ban, saying most innocent people do not use such weapons to defend themselves.
Now, Clarke is apologizing for Flynn’s behavior “on behalf of my constituents.” On Tuesday, Clarke revealed the contents of a letter to judiciary committee member Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. In the letter, the sheriff accuses Flynn of being “embarrassing” and “rude.”
“I watched in utter disbelief as [Flynn] talked over you and interrupted you,” Clarke wrote.
The sheriff added, “Please do not see [Flynn's] arrogance as exemplary of the people of Milwaukee County.
“I have a forceful personality but would not even dream of coming up to Capitol Hill to disrespect and shout down a member of Congress,” wrote Clarke.
Concerned about surveillance drones, tanks in the streets and gun confiscation? Find out “HOW AMERICA IS BECOMING A POLICE STATE” in this shocking WND special report.
He said Flynn’s real goal is “gun control, not a reduction in street violence” and his “viewpoint does not represent either my view on gun control nor countless other law-abiding citizens and gun owners in Milwaukee County.”
Clarke’s letter also called Flynn a “mouthpiece for the Mayors Against Guns group that has made no secret of their desire to obliterate the Second Amendment.”
Flynn shot back, “I’m not interested in getting into a feud with a politician trying to raise funds for his next campaign.”
He also said: “I was frustrated because I was hearing talking points. I wasn’t in a discussion. I was hearing an NRA talking point coming out of the mouth of the senator.”
Flynn has since gone on national television to compare Second Amendment rights with what he calls community rights.
“I think it’s fundamental that we start to respond, recognizing that the rights of communities are every bit as important as the rights of individuals,” he said.
Flynn and Clarke have had a war of words over gun control since December’s school shootings in Newton, Conn.
Clarke entered the national spotlight in January with a public service announcement on local radio telling people not to count on a rapid response from police to 911 calls. He said people should consider taking gun-safety courses “so you can defend yourself until we get there.”
A second radio ad that began running Friday seemed to target the Milwaukee Police Department.
“Violent crime went up nearly 10 percent in Milwaukee. Are you the next victim?” Clarke says. “You don’t have to be, but that’s your call.”
“Now it’s the crook who has to wonder what you might do,” Clarke says. “It could be a great equalizer, but you always have to think survival.”
.......................................
View the complete article at:
http://www.wnd.com/2013/03/gun-contr...-police-chief/
Stark warning: Don't count on rapid response to 9-1-1 calls
WND
Garth Kant
3/7/2013
Excerpt:
A war of words between Milwaukee’s two top cops over Second Amendment rights has gone national, and now it’s getting personal.
Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. is using public service announcements to encourage residents to arm themselves because of a soaring violent-crime rate.
Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn says Clarke is just seeking attention and trying to boost his reelection efforts. Flynn has criticized Republicans in Congress and gun groups for opposing new firearms restrictions.
But even the Huffington Post finds Flynn over-the-top when it comes to gun control. HuffPo notes that a few years ago, Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen affirmed that state residents were legally permitted to openly carry a gun in public.
Flynn responded, “My message to my troops is if you see anybody carrying a gun on the streets of Milwaukee, we’ll put them on the ground, take the gun away and then decide whether you have a right to carry it.”
The police chief was just as aggressive at a Senate judiciary hearing last week. He testified in support of an “assault weapons” ban, saying most innocent people do not use such weapons to defend themselves.
Now, Clarke is apologizing for Flynn’s behavior “on behalf of my constituents.” On Tuesday, Clarke revealed the contents of a letter to judiciary committee member Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. In the letter, the sheriff accuses Flynn of being “embarrassing” and “rude.”
“I watched in utter disbelief as [Flynn] talked over you and interrupted you,” Clarke wrote.
The sheriff added, “Please do not see [Flynn's] arrogance as exemplary of the people of Milwaukee County.
“I have a forceful personality but would not even dream of coming up to Capitol Hill to disrespect and shout down a member of Congress,” wrote Clarke.
Concerned about surveillance drones, tanks in the streets and gun confiscation? Find out “HOW AMERICA IS BECOMING A POLICE STATE” in this shocking WND special report.
He said Flynn’s real goal is “gun control, not a reduction in street violence” and his “viewpoint does not represent either my view on gun control nor countless other law-abiding citizens and gun owners in Milwaukee County.”
Clarke’s letter also called Flynn a “mouthpiece for the Mayors Against Guns group that has made no secret of their desire to obliterate the Second Amendment.”
Flynn shot back, “I’m not interested in getting into a feud with a politician trying to raise funds for his next campaign.”
He also said: “I was frustrated because I was hearing talking points. I wasn’t in a discussion. I was hearing an NRA talking point coming out of the mouth of the senator.”
Flynn has since gone on national television to compare Second Amendment rights with what he calls community rights.
“I think it’s fundamental that we start to respond, recognizing that the rights of communities are every bit as important as the rights of individuals,” he said.
Flynn and Clarke have had a war of words over gun control since December’s school shootings in Newton, Conn.
Clarke entered the national spotlight in January with a public service announcement on local radio telling people not to count on a rapid response from police to 911 calls. He said people should consider taking gun-safety courses “so you can defend yourself until we get there.”
A second radio ad that began running Friday seemed to target the Milwaukee Police Department.
“Violent crime went up nearly 10 percent in Milwaukee. Are you the next victim?” Clarke says. “You don’t have to be, but that’s your call.”
“Now it’s the crook who has to wonder what you might do,” Clarke says. “It could be a great equalizer, but you always have to think survival.”
.......................................
View the complete article at:
http://www.wnd.com/2013/03/gun-contr...-police-chief/