Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson said the tragic shooting of Marines in Chattanooga shows that domestic terrorism is "far too close to home."
He said, "An event that many people in our community thought was more than improbable, and totally unthinkable has happened just a few short miles from the Bradley County line, and with this devastation occurrence we now realize the specter of domestic terrorism is real, and has struck far too close to home.
"Of course, I am referring to the despicable attack on two military sites Thursday morning by a cowardly gunman who took the lives of four honorable United State Marines, wounded a brave
Chattanooga City Police Officer, and caused injury to two other innocent victims.
While the motive for this attack is still under intense investigation, it is clear no justification for it can ever be found in the mind of a sane person.
"While campaigning for office just a year ago I warned those who would listen that the evil of terrorism knows no boundaries, and is not isolated in high population areas of our country. We witnessed graphic and heartbreaking proof yesterday that this unwarranted violence will not discriminate against hometown America, but rather, present all Americans with the most serious domestic challenge in our history.
"What turned out to be erroneous reports of gunshots at a local mall were received by 911 operators, our law enforcement professionals from the city and county responded exactly as we have trained so diligently to do in just a scenario as this. I was proud to witness our two wonderful law enforcement agencies work together in the face of this threat to protect the people who were thought at the time to be in danger.
"During my first year in office, I have worked closely with the Tennessee Department of Safety/Homeland Security, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, and the Cleveland Police Department to make absolutely certain we have, in this community, the properly trained officers, as well as the necessary equipment, we may very well need some time in the future to mitigate a terror-style event in our own home town.
"The Heartland of America represents, in the eyes of terrorist, the most sacred area of our great county. It is in the Heartland where we worship our God, raise our families, and work hard to make a better life for those we love. We have to stand united, we have to stand strong, and we have to send a message that love of our country and respect for our military is stronger nowhere than in the Heartland, and we will never bow down to terror, and we will never give in to the threats and violent acts of madmen bent on destroying our way of life. If you’re unhappy with America or don’t support what our great United States of America flag stands for, Move out of this country and stay out. This is America and always will be America.
"Today, as we join our Chattanooga neighbors to the south in mourning the loss of four of America’s finest, we need to pray for the families and loved ones of these four young heroes. We need to pray for our country, and for the wisdom and strength for our national leaders, in fighting this evil. And, finally, we need to pray for our community and its leaders. I for one need your prayers and support as I continue every day to look for better ways to protect and serve this community."