A Florida sheriff is speaking further after warning potential violent protesters that he could replace “all legal gun owners” in his county “to be in the gap between illegality and civility.”
Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels made the initial comment Tuesday in a video posted on his department’s Facebook page. In the clip, Daniels said his rank and file “would protect his constitutional rights as long as he remains under the umbrella of a peaceful protest or a peaceful march.”
“But the moment you leave the protection of the Constitution, we will be waiting for you and we will give you everything you want,” he continued.
“And if we can’t handle it, I will exercise power and authority as the sheriff, and I will make special deputies for every legal gun owner in this county and delegate them for this sole purpose. The gap between lawlessness and courtesy,” added Daniels. .
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However, during a follow-up video released the next day, in which Daniels was conversing with a local peaceful protest organizer, the sheriff said, “We have not, and will never give anyone, autonomy or approval under the name.” . from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. “
“That is our responsibility,” said Daniels. “But when it comes to protecting this county, that’s more than the responsibility of the sheriff’s office. It is us collectively, it is our county, it is our community and our responsibility to watch over us together, but when it comes to authority, authority is the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and every sworn police officer in this jurisdiction. “
Daniels said the caller had “some concerns about people who are essentially in arms or all they heard was’ hey, the sheriff says he will make special deputies and they will be made up of legal gun owners in Clay County and it will make them special deputies, ‘which … for some people, it sounds like’ wait a minute, they will give the green light to the people or they will authorize them to use deadly force against peaceful protesters. ‘”
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“That would be a violation or abandonment of my duties as the sheriff,” he added. “That would also be a violation of state law.”
The Clay County Board of Commissioners, when contacted by Fox News, said it had no comment.
