(BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala.) June 24 - Wednesday, their targets may have been paper, but the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office says the face of crime is changing-- not only how its being committed, but the weapons used as well. So Wednesday was all about preparation. Its no movie set, no make believe scenario. This is real world combat training for our streets.
"The criminal element is changing." says Baldwin county Sheriff's Office Major Anthony Lowery, "and we are duty-bound to do the same thing."
He says the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office says those threats are very real. All you have to do is turn on the television to see them. Randy Younce sees it all first hand. "Its part of the job," he says, "you know that getting into it, but thats why you train and act accordingly."
Which is why he and fellow deputies are here. They know each bullet they shoot is training that may one day save their lives. Major Lowery says nation-wide, violent crime has sky rocketed.the use of automatic weapons is up and law enforcement needs to be prepared.
"Its to prevent things like that from happening" he says, "but God forbid they do, you do this so you can deal with it effectively." This day at the range is only part of their real world work. The Sheriff's Office has added automatic weapons to their arsenal and tasers to their tactics. Whatever the situation calls for, they say, they'll be ready. "'Cause that's the way it is in real life." Younce says, "no one is going to stand still for you and you sure aren't going to stand still for them."
