AndrewBlakeFort Lauderdale, FL – A Florida deputy’s viral Facebook post about him giving up his rifle in the wake of the Florida school shooting has made national news.
Broward County Sheriff’s Deputy Ben Dickmann posted Feb. 16 on Facebook that he was turning in his AR-57 rifle (a variant of the AR-15.)
“I’m putting my money where my mouth is (from yesterday’s FB post). This is an AR-FiveSeven, I own this rifle. It’s a caliber variant of the AR-15,” Deputy Dickmann posted.
“I am a responsible, highly trained gun owner. However I do not need this rifle,” his post continued. “No one without a law enforcement badge needs this rifle. This rifle is not a “tool” I have use for. A tool, by definition makes a job/work easier. Any “job” i can think of legally needing doing can be done better by a different firearm
“I enjoyed shooting this rifle immensely but I don’t need it, I have other types I can shoot for the same enjoyment. I have surrendered this rifle to The Broward Sheriff at the Tamarac Post. I could have easily sold this rifle, but no person needs this. I will be the change I want to see in this world. If our law makers will continue to close their eyes and open their wallets, I will lead by example.” Deputy Dickmann wrote.
The post showed a photo of him filling out an abandoned rifle inventory form so that he could surrender ownership to the agency.
The post was liked 354,000 times within 17 hours and had been shared 148,310 times.
Numerous local and national news outlets picked up the story.
The law enforcement community generally seems dumbfounded by the move. We have searched, and been unable to locate any officers who appear supportive of what he did.
Do you think that people turning in their rifles is the solution to stop school shootings? We’d like to hear from you. Please let us know in the comments.