Though it’s appropriate the Freeborn County Sheriff’s office received new firearms to replace outdated weapons, we don’t agree the officers should have to fundraise to pay for them. Kudos to Sheriff Harig and his officers for finding the way to pay for them.

It also seems entirely appropriate that the bank robbed last November present a weapon to the officer who was on the scene.

But for the Sheriff’s office to have to raise money to pay for the 21 rifles, 21 pistols, 21 shotguns and a sniper rifle seems ridiculous.

Providing firearms to law enforcement officers to match what criminals are using should be a no-brainer. They must be well-equipped to handle the sophisticated weaponry being bandied about by those trading in drugs, among the many crimes for which guns are used.

Officer safety should be paramount, for they are the leaders in public safety. Without the local police and sheriff’s deputies to fight for us against riff-raff, where would we be? Citizens of Freeborn County should demand our public servants be equipped to protect themselves and us; and money should be provided from the County’s budget. The message being sent is the safety of our officers and our residents takes a backseat.

There’s no doubt the past couple of years have been tough financially for the city and county. Funding cuts at the state level have deeply affected local governments. However, priorities must be set and public safety should be at the top of the list.