Guns.com:

With a recent spike in crime, a North Carolina sheriff is following suit of other law enforcement officials across the country by taking what some consider a controversial stance, encouraging area residents to arm themselves for their own protection, a local ABC affiliate reported.

The once rural area of Harnett County has seen a growth in population and with it, crime and violence have increased as well, with a dramatic surge over the last few weeks. In fact, crime has gotten so bad that some residents admit they’re afraid to leave their homes.

Sheriff Larry Rollins thinks the increase can be attributed to gangs and drugs, and in an attempt to combat the growing problem, about 100 people gathered at a local church for a community meeting Monday evening to discuss possible solutions.

One woman in attendance wants to believe that her faith is enough to give her peace – she goes to church and prays – but admits that she’s still afraid of the growing violence.

“I believe in God, but I am still afraid of what is going on,” said resident Lynda Jenks. “I am afraid to go off very far, for very long. I am afraid of break-ins. I am afraid.”

Sheriff Rollins then gives the most succinct, best counsel I’ve seen from a LEO concerning your own safety.

“When I am out with my family, even though I am a cop, I don’t go anywhere without a gun,” Rollins said during a speech at the meeting. “I mean it’s sad we have to have that attitude, but I am going to protect myself and my family. I want my deputies at your house just as fast as they can when you got a problem, but you better be able to take care of business until we get there if you have to protect your family.”

For the poor lady who is (justifiably) scared, I know it’s tough, but I don’t think that is the best posture for her or anyone else.  I recommend that we remove emotion, fear and even vigilantism from the calculus, and see the need to own and bear arms not it terms of a failure to trust God (she obviously has had some bad teaching somewhere along the line), but rather in terms of positively trusting God.

God has told us that we must be able and ready to defend ourselves and our families, and refusal to do so is a failure to believe in His promises that mankind will face evil until He returns.  In other words, I see things exactly opposite her, and it is my view that she should find liberating and empowering, rather than the pacifist belief that God will protect us no matter how foolish we are.

Good for Sheriff Rollins.