Enough is Enough
The terror attacks are coming so frequently now that it is impossible to read or listen to the news without learning of a new one. And these are the terror attacks that the media cannot deny are committed in the name of Islam.
After a rash of attacks in the U.K., including in Manchester and on London Bridge, some in the U.K. may finally be awakened to the dangers posed by Islam. Prime Minister Theresa May has finally said, “Enough is enough.”
We would hope that “enough is enough” means that governments will finally get serious about identifying and dealing with the threats posed by Islam. If those governments need to identify it as “radical” or “extreme” Islam to remain politically relevant is less important now than taking effective steps to repel this threat. Whether there exists the political will to change those policies remains to be seen.
Our neighbors’ tragedies must also serve as a wake-up call for us here in the United States. There’s no question that the terrorists would love to execute more terror attacks in the United States. Because of our affluence, open borders, and tremendous freedoms, the U.S. is considered the ultimate target by many terrorists. However, we don’t need to wait until after tragedy strikes to protect ourselves.
Nationally, there is no shortage of suggestions about how to respond to terror attacks, and they range from the ridiculous to the worthy. It is a sad reflection on U.S. political will that we cannot take reasonable steps to protect our borders without interference from politically-biased judges.
Despite the best efforts of President Trump, effective national policies may or may not ever be adopted. That is why we must combat this evil locally, and there are things we all can do.
As a public official, my highest calling is to protect the community I serve. Through the dedicated and professional efforts of my deputies and other staff in the Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office, that protection occurs 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year. However, our deputies and other law-enforcement officers cannot be in all places at all times.
I urge you to take the steps necessary to remain vigilant and protect your family and loved ones. This includes lawfully carrying a firearm, as you may be permitted by law. Become knowledgeable about the steps you may legally take to defend yourself and others, and be prepared to do so.
Be observant. The best community protectors are people who live there every day. You know what normal looks like. You know what is out of place. Become aware of what is going on around you, and notice when that changes. Then tell us.
Culpeper County is blessed in the fact that we have a strong community, a strong bond with our neighbors. Strengthen that bond. We welcome with open arms those who seek to join us and honor and cherish the values we hold as a community.
There is much that we can do to enhance the safety and security of our communities. We must also be mindful that the world in which we will find ourselves ten years from now is being shaped today. Be vigilant, observant, and committed to protecting our community’s values. Everything that slips by us today will be magnified and exploited by our enemy, and used against us tomorrow.
Unless we want to wake up in an unrecognizable world ten years from now, it is time for all of us to say, “Enough is enough.”