Call to Arms or Bureaucratic Bleg?

“With officers laid off and furloughed . . .

simply calling 911 and waiting is no longer your best option. You could beg for mercy from a violent criminal, hide under the bed, or you can fight back. But are you prepared?”

“You have a duty to protect yourself and your family. We’re partners now. Can I count on you?”

Many reporting on this take the Sheriff's Public Service Announcement as a call to arms by a responsible Sheriff, speaking to his fellow citizens.  However, note the preamble:  With officers laid off and furloughed . . .  Some might say that this is a message to the community to pony up more taxes to keep the police force at current strength.  Nothing overt, of course.  Just the subtle message that, hey if we have to keep laying cops off you better get your own gun and do this job yourself.

There was a day when the citizens did just that.

Feedback at National Review's The Corner on my notion above:

John Tagliaferro

With his preamble of "officers laid off and furloughed" it sounds more like a typical bureaucrat bleg for more funding.

pkotik

Nice little town youse got here. Wouldn't want nuttin to happen to it...