Spartanburg Sheriff Chuck Wright Tells It Like It Is

A 46 year-old man (Walter Lance) is is police custody after an attempted rape. He attacked a woman walking her dog on Sunday afternoon in a park in Spartanburg, SC.

At Lance’s bond hearing on Monday, 7th Circuit Solicitor Barry Barnette said the victim was walking her dog when Lance approached her and petted the dog to be sure it was friendly. Then he grabbed the woman and dragged her into the woods...Lance choked the woman from behind, forced her to strip off her clothing and then attempted to rape her.

First, this could happen to anyone. Walking your dog in a park at 2:30PM on a Sunday shouldn't be a high risk activity. This is a prime example of the police simply not being able to be omnipresent. Unfortunately, this kind of thing happens all too often. Apparently, it has come to the point where the Spartanburg County Sheriff is issuing a call to arms (video at link).

Wright said Lance had been charged numerous times with crimes against women, and other crimes such as resisting arrest and escape. Wright said Lance had been on probation for a federal gun charge. 

He referred to Lance repeatedly as an "animal," and expressed his disgust about Lance's long record and the attack. 

Wright said Lance has had more than 20 charges dating back to 1983.

During his press conference Wright expressed his disgust with the current justice system that allows criminals to re-enter society to commit more crimes like this. Multiple times, Wright said that private citizens need to get a concealed weapons permit. "Carry a concealed weapon. That will fix it." I agree; carrying around a sidearm is much easier than carrying around a sheriff's deputy everywhere.

If you like to think of yourself as a responsible person, ask yourself this: Am I responsible for my own protection? Getting a restraining order and a cell phone doesn't stop people (and I use that term loosely) like Lance. The only thing that is going to stop him is a few rounds in his center mass. I know that it may be unlikely for you to need a concealed weapon, but the bad guys only need to be lucky once. You have to be lucky every time.

Permanent Press applauds a law enforcement officer who will tell people what they need to hear, not what they want to hear.  It sure isn't politically correct, but it's common sense. Having said all that, if you do decide to carry, it's also a big responsibility. Don't do so on a whim. Practice, train, and be smart.

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