Bud Cornwell, an information technology manager and retired Marine living in northern Alabama, does not support the defunding police concept or the riots that have hit U.S. cities this year.
However, he understands that his community is not immune to social justice protests and the violent clashes that happen at times.
“It could come to any city, any town in America,” he said in an interview with Yellowhammer Times. “I will do what it takes to protect my family.”
The Christian minister believes, “We’ve got to talk to these people that have issues with what’s going on and try to resolve this. At the same, if the violence does get dangerous where I live, we will do what we can to protect ourselves.”
Security is even more of an issue for Cornwell because he has grown children and grandchildren who live in other cities.
“We’re also concerned about what could happen after the election,” he said. “My personal opinion is that it’s blown up by the media. There’s going to be some issues we have to deal with, but I don’t think it’s going to be outright insurrection. I really don’t think it’s going to be Armageddon.”
It’s the government’s responsibility to maintain the peace, he said.
“The Constitution of the United States requires our government to provide law and order,” he said. “I spent a lot of time in the Marine Corps so I have people of all different races and ethnicities that are great friends of mine and live in some of these big cities. I understand what they’re feeling. But this election does not change my mind whatsoever of the need for appropriate law enforcement of a city or a town.”
With the election approaching, Cornwell believes the country should unit to fight COVID-19.
“We can do that without degrading what [the protester’s] cause is,” he said. “I don’t think the average Joe really understands the impact of this violence in these big cities on a lot of good, hardworking people.”
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