A sheriff in Florida has promised to deputize law-abiding gun owners to help police deal with protesters if things get out of hand.
Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels, whose jurisdiction is just outside of Jacksonville, posted a more than three-minute video on YouTube and said he would allow peaceful protests in his county to occur — but the second they cross the line, his deputies will be ready.
"Yes, we'll protect your constitutional rights as long as you remain under the umbrellas of peaceful protest or peaceful march. But the second you step out from up under protection of the Constitution, we'll be waiting on you and we'll give you everything you want," said Daniels, who according to The Florida Times-Union is the first Black sheriff of Clay County.
"All the publicity, all the pain, all the glamour and glory for all that five minutes will give you. Is it a threat? Absolutely not."
Daniels, who made his comments while standing with around 20 of his deputies in front of patrol cars, then explained how he is prepared to make deputies out of gun owners in his county if his department needs assistance.
"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."
Protesters have taken to the streets ever since the May 25 death of George Floyd, a Black man who died while handcuffed after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Some of the protests have been violent and police have been attacked as they try to deal with the crowds.
Last weekend, a St. Louis couple stepped outside their home with guns as protesters walked by en route to the mayor's house. The weapons included what appeared to be an assault rifle and a handgun.
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