A North Carolina sheriff told a crowd gathered at an event Monday to express concern over increased crime in their community that when he is not on duty he carries a gun for protection and that they should too.
“When I am out with my family, even though I am a cop, I don’t go anywhere without a gun,” Harnett County sheriff Larry Rollins told the crowd, gathered at Spring Hill United Methodist church, according to WTVD.
“I mean it’s sad we have to have that attitude, but 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.”
The meeting was held after crime wave that has disrupted the small rural community just south of Raleigh.
According to WRAL, three “high-profile” incidents have occurred in the county within the past week, including a triple shooting outside of a convenience store, a high-speed chase following a drug bust, and the murder of an 18-year-old man whose body was found in a dumpster.
Rollins told the crowd that the recent violence was related to drug and gang activity.