Harris County, Georgia is cautioning criminals who may enter their country that they’re armed.
An “unconventional” (to say the least) billboard reads “Welcome to Harris County, Georgia,” sarcastically adding: “Our citizens have concealed weapons. If you kill someone, we might kill you back. We have ONE jail and 356 cemeteries. Enjoy your stay! -Sheriff Mike Jolley.”
According to the New York Daily News:
Harris County Sheriff Mike Jolley, who has displayed unusual signs before, placed the message near the department office.
Jolly told local media outlets that the sign, which he said he paid for, was meant to be “tongue-in-cheek.”
“It’s a way to say people in this county have a second amendment right and if someone uses a weapon, they’re likely in danger,” he told Patch. “Don’t do anything crazy. We’re likely to shoot back.”
The photo of the sign has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook this week. Jolley told the Ledger-Enquirer newspaper that the reaction was “98 or 99% supportive.”
Gun rights are immensely popular in Georgia, so much so that in one county, Kennesaw, you legally are required to own a gun (though the law is not enforced). That’s been the law there since 1982.
And how has that worked out for them?
In 2007, World Net Daily reported that the town had officially gone 25 years murder free. The record has almost gone uninterrupted, with just one murder since 1982. As WND noted regarding the circumstances of the then-new law in the 80s:
Prior to enactment of the law, Kennesaw had a population of just 5,242 but a crime rate significantly higher (4,332 per 100,000) than the national average (3,899 per 100,000). The latest statistics available – for the year 2005 – show the rate at 2,027 per 100,000. Meanwhile, the population has skyrocketed to 28,189.
The town has approximately 33,000 people today, and it’s needless to say that despite the abundance of firearms, the town’s gun violence statistics are far below the national average.
Do you support this county’s billboard, or does it go too far? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
