The Pinal County Justice Foundation is asking for public donations that would help the Pinal County (Ariz.) Sheriff's Office purchase rifles for deputies.
Automatic rifles are needed to help fight the "war against the Mexican drug cartel members and their affiliates," according to a release.
"My deputies are outgunned and we are outmanned," according to Sheriff Paul Babeu. " We need help to raise money to buy Arizona made semi-automatic rifles to fight this threat against our citizens."
The Pinal County Sheriff's Office needs the rifles now because "dangerous incidents have increased through the past few years and are now escalating to a point where deputies are involved in high-speed vehicle pursuits, shootouts between deputies and smugglers, incidents of ambush, as well as the deputy who was injured in a shooting."
More information is available at the Pinal County Justice Foundation website.
