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SEARCH"If we can’t handle you, I’ll exercise the power and authority as the sheriff, and I’ll make special deputies of every lawful gun owner in this county and I’ll deputize them for this one purpose to stand in the gap between lawlessness and civility."
Clay County, FL, Sheriff Darryl Daniels released a video Tuesday that said he will make “special deputies of every lawful gun owner in this county” if his men can't handle an influx of violent demonstrators.
The three-minute video shows Daniels standing in front of 18 deputies as he tells violent protesters to stay out of Clay County, a suburb of Jacksonville, First Coast News reports.
The sheriff says he does not oppose peaceful protest under the Constitution. But he warned people to stay within the Constitution if they come to his county.
“And if you come to Clay County and you think for one second, we’ll bend our backs for you, you’re sadly mistaken,” he said. “I know what happens when lawlessness prevails. And in this day and time, God is raising up men and women just like the folks standing behind me who will have strong backbones and will stand in the gap between lawlessness and the citizenry we’re sworn to protect.”
The sheriff closed his statement saying, "Tearing up Clay County, that’s not going to be acceptable.
"If we can’t handle you, I’ll exercise the power and authority as the sheriff, and I’ll make special deputies of every lawful gun owner in this county and I’ll deputize them for this one purpose to stand in the gap between lawlessness and civility.
"That’s what we’re sworn to do. That’s what we’re going to do. You’ve been warned."
Sheriff Daniels is running for reelection.
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