Get Ready To Defend Yourself In Josephine County

THE JOSEPHINE COUNTY SHERIFF SAYS CITIZENS SHOULD PREPARE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES. SHERIFF GIL GILBERTSON OF JOSEPHINE COUNTY SAID TODAY "Quite honestly, I encourage people having weapons... You know the bad guys have weapons.. And you have the legal right to defend your life and the life of your family, and the life of a third person."

THE LOSS OF FEDERAL TIMBER MONEY MEANS FEWER DEPUTIES AND THE SHERIFF SAYS THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO COME WHEN THEY'RE CALLED FOR HELP. COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE TELLING RESIDENTS THEY MAY SOON BE "ON THEIR OWN".

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS EXPECTING TO SEE AN ACCELERATION OF CRIME WHEN THIS HAPPENS. SO JUST WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY?

IT'S NO JOKE. SHERIFF GILBERTSON SAYS IT MAY SOON BE UP TO YOU TO DEFEND YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY.

"Numerous people have made comment in the paper... And on television... Saying... You're just trying to scare us... And "no folks... That is exactly what I'm not doing here".

GILBERTSON SAYS JOSEPHINE COUNTY POLICE FACE LOSING HALF THEIR FORCE.

"Without law enforcement... It truly is a formula for disaster."

SHERIFF GIL GILBERTSON ADDED, IT IS THE COUNTY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE CITIZENS WITH INFORMATION ON WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN'T DO.

THAT'S WHY THE COUNTY WILL BE OFFERING SEVERAL CLASSES ON JUST THAT. BUT EVEN WITH THE CLASSES, WILL THAT BE ENOUGH?

ONE STORE OWNER ISN'T SURE.

JERRY LARSON OF THE WONDER GENERAL STORE SAYS: "If somebody comes in here with a loaded weapon.... The last thing on my mind is going to be what my rights are... poor guy is gone as far as I'm concerned... Cuz I look at it like, It's him or me."

SHERIFF GILBERTSON THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE COVERED IN THE CLASSES: "We'll talk about the appropriate crimes and use of weapons... And we also want to rejuvinate the neighborhood watch program."

GILBERTSON SAYS THE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAM IS A GOOD WAY TO KEEP YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORS SAFE. HE SAYS IN CASE OF TROUBLE, CALL YOUR NEIGHBORS ON THE BLOCK, HAVE THEM FLIP ON THE LIGHTS AND START TAKING PICTURES.

"It's a deterrent and it's evidence that once law enforcement gets it's feet back under itself.. We can go ahead and prosecute these people."

SHERIFF GILBERTSON TELL US -- THE GRANTS PASS CITY POLICE... ALONG WITH OREGON STATE POLICE... WILL TRY AND HELP IN ANY LIFE OR DEATH EMERGENCIES.

THOSE SELF DEFENSE SEMINARS WILL BE HELD AT THE JOSEPHINE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS... IN THE "FLOWER BUILDING" ON MAY 1st, 8th, 22nd AND 29th.EACH SEMINAR WILL RUN FROM 7 TO 9 P-M. THE COST IS FREE... AND ANYONE IN THE COUNTY IS WELCOME TO ATTEND.