Sheriff’s Advice following Mass Murder: “Arm Yourself”

Following a mass murder of seven adults and one teen, Pikes County Sheriff Charles Reader encouraged the community he serves to arm themselves if they felt fearful.

WSAZ reported the story:

Eight people were found shot to death, execution-style, with gunshot wounds to the head Friday.

Attorney General Mike Dewine says it appears the shooting happened overnight. “It is frightening. It’s just heartbreaking,” he said.

AG Dewine says some of the victims were found in bed, including a woman, who was found in bed with her 4-day-old baby. The baby was alive. “It’s just hard to believe,” he said.

The initial call came in just before 8 a.m. Friday, according to Sheriff Reader, regarding two bloody males, who were possibly deceased at a home on Union Hill Road.

Sheriff Reader says while deputies were heading to the scene, they were flagged down and told about two other possible scenes, where they found more victims.

A total of seven victims were found dead at those three locations.

During the investigation, they received another call about another property on Left Fork, where another man was found dead.

Investigators say three of the properties are within a mile of each other and the fourth location is within 10 minutes from the other scenes.

A total of eight people were shot and killed. Seven adults and one 16-year-old boy were the victims.

The news outlet seemed to indicate that the murders could be tied to Mexican drug cartels, though the Sheriff’s office did not specifically say that.

In response to the murders, Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader told the citizens he serves that if they were fearful, they should arm themselves.

“I can tell you if you are fearful, arm yourself. If you feel that you need to protect yourself or family, do so, and contact the local law enforcement to come and respond to it.”

This is good advice. In fact, these kinds of comments are becoming more common place about police chiefs and sheriffs across the country.

DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier said that armed citizens should take out active shooters, a Florida sheriff has also encouraged citizens to arm themselves, and Detroit Police Chief James Craig also encouraged the citizens he serves to arm themselves.

The Second Amendment clearly applies to arming the citizen militia, but there is also the fundamental right of every person to keep and bear arms in defense of life, property and liberty .