Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu is calling for more Arizonans to arm themselves and take gun-safety courses in the wake of recent mass shootings and terror attacks.
At a press conference at Caswells Shooting Range in Mesa, Babeu said he doesn't believe more gun control is the answer following the terror attack in San Bernardino. Instead, he called on citizens to be prepared to defend themselves.
"I wish we could have a cop on every corner, in every neighborhood, in every school," Babeu told the crowd. "We just can't."
Babeu said he needs help from everyday people to fight the “bad guys.”
"Be armed to protect yourself, protect your family until we can get there," he said.
Babeu also said it's not enough to just own a gun. He wants people to know how to properly use one in an emergency, when emotions are flying high.
"A lot of people, I go and talk to a lot of citizens in my county and throughout the state, they're concerned about additional threats in the community," Babeu said.
