Winston-Salem Journal’s Scott Sexton analyzes Forsyth County’s proposed trade of two Tommy guns for 88 Bushmaster rifles for the sheriff’s department:
On first telling, the story sounded light-hearted, vaguely amusing and kind of practical. Sheriff wants to trade Tommy guns for new equipment.
..Don’t misunderstand; the Second is my second-favorite amendment, just behind the First.
Whether the sheriff’s department needs more long guns than the city police isn’t the issue. Nor is the question of whether 66 assault rifles comprise an adequate armory or if they’re being deployed correctly.
No, the issue really is this: Pistols, shotguns and legitimate hunting rifles should really be enough to slake the national thirst for guns. It’s sad that cops already armed with tasers, pistols and rifles feel they’re outgunned.
Forsyth commissioners delayed a vote on the proposed swap.
