SC Sheriff: "Our form of justice is not making it." "Carry a concealed weapon."

by Chad D. Baus

Advice given by Spartanburg County, SC Sheriff Chuck Wright to citizens concerned about a recent spate of violent crimes is making national headlines. The controversy? Wright advised people to take steps to protect themselves by buying a gun.

From WYFF4.com (the Greenville, SC NBC affiliate):

The Spartanburg County Sheriff is known for speaking his mind, and at a news conference on Monday, he didn't hold back his anger and frustration after a woman was attacked in a park over the weekend.

Investigators said 46-year-old Walter Lance grabbed a woman who was walking her dog in Milliken Park on Sunday afternoon. They said Lance choked the woman, made her take off her clothing and tried to rape her.

Lance is in custody and was denied bond on Monday.

Sheriff Chuck Wright opened his news conference by saying, "Our form of justice is not making it."

He said, "Carry a concealed weapon. That'll fix it."

Sheriff Wright told the media that Lance had been charged numerous times with crimes against women, and other crimes such as resisting arrest and escape. He is also quoted as saying Lance had been on probation for a federal gun charge, and said Lance has had more than 20 charges dating back to 1983.

Wright said, "Liberals call me and tell me the chain-gang form of justice isn't working. Well, let me inform you, your form of justice isn't working either."

He said Lance should not have had the right or opportunity to "violate a good, upstanding woman."

"This is a horrific crime," Wright said. "Her life was threatened so many times."

He said Lance "doesn't fight police or men folk -- he just goes after women." He said Lance is not married because, "No woman can stay married to him because he beats them down too much."

Wright said, "It's too bad someone with a concealed weapons permit didn't walk by. That would fix it." He said people are tired of doing the right thing and criminals getting away with their actions.

He said several times, "I want you to get a concealed weapons permit."

At one point, Wright held up a fanny pack and said, "They make this right here where you can conceal a small pistol in them. They got one called The Judge that shoots a .45 or a .410 shell. You ain't got to be accurate; you just have to get close."

Wright said, "I'm tired of looking at victims saying, 'There's life after this' ...I'm tired of saying, 'We're sorry, we can't keep them in jail.'"

Wright said in his view, gun control is, "Is when you can get your barrel back on the target quick. That's gun control."

The sheriff ended by saying again, "I want you to get a concealed weapons permit. Don't get Mace. Get a firearm."

Chad D. Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Association Vice Chairman.

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