The Brevard County sheriff posted a video on the department’s Facebook page that some say is encouraging the use of guns.
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Sheriff Wayne Ivey said he wants his citizens to be able to protect themselves if they are in the presence of an active shooter.
The video was partly in response to last week’s mass shooting in San Bernardino, California, where 14 people were killed and 21 others injured.
In the video, Ivey encouraged guns as just one way to stop an active shooter.
“If you are a person who is legally license to carry a firearm, now is the time, more than ever, to realize that you, and you alone, may very well be the first line of defense for you, your family and others around you in a terrorist or active shooter scenario,” Ivey said.
The video has more than two million views, 25,000 shares and more than 1,000 comments.
Many of the comments commended the sheriff’s effort.
Ivey doesn’t believe the video could put more lives in danger by encouraging more citizens to carry guns.
“What we said is we are not talking about a vigilante roll here. We are talking about is being prepared to respond to an incident,” Ivey said.
In the post, there was also training video of classes that are offered by the Sheriff’s Office.
Ivey advised citizens that if they find themselves in an active shooter situation to run, hide and, in the worst case, fight.
“This is now about trying to scare anyone. This is about trying to prepare everyone,” Ivey said.
