San Bernardino City Attorney James Penman had some words of advice at a community meeting last week for residents concerned about what effect the city’s bankruptcy might have on their day-to-day lives:

 “Go home, lock your doors and load your guns.”

“I can understand how people who don’t live or work in the City of San Bernardino and don’t hear the sirens every night, the gun shots, the helicopters overhead, as many San Bernardino residents do, might not understand the significance when you have people being killed in their homes,” Penman told the Riverside Press-Enterprise after the competing San Bernardino Sun ran an editorial accusing him of “preying on people’s fear.”

The head of the police union, Steve Turner, called it “fear mongering at its worst” and expressed concern that it would encourage vigilantes.

San Bernardino has recorded 46 homicides in 2012, compared to 29 at the end of November 2011. Fifty-eight people were murdered in 2005. The department has 260 sworn officers, 80 less than its peak.

Penman expanded upon his remarks at a city council meeting Monday, apparently concerned that unarmed people or those with crappy guns might want to shoot people, too:

“When I tell people to go home and lock your doors and load your guns, I’m talking to people who own guns. Because, obviously, if you don’t have a gun in your house, you’re not going to load it,” Penman said. “I do not advocate that people who do not have guns, or who do not know how to use guns, should pick up a firearm that’s been in the cabinet for years and load it. Or go out and buy one. That would be irresponsible.”   

Penman said his original comments were meant only to apply to his audience of seniors and veterans. People with children, he said, should not take his advice.

Penman has been vocal about a number of issues affected by the city’s declaration of bankruptcy in July. Shortly after the City Council voted to file for protection in the courts, Penman alleged that the city wouldn’t be in such bad shape if it hadn’t been cooking its financial books for years. A few days later he backtracked and said he had no evidence of willful falsification of reports.

-Ken Broder

To Learn More:

San Bernardino Official Amends His “Lock Doors, Load Guns” Remark (by Phil Willon, Los Angeles Times)

San Bernardino City Attorney James Penman Defends “Load Your Guns” Crime Advice (by Ryan Hagen, San Bernardino Sun)

Penman “Load Your Gun” Comment Stirs Debate (by Imran Ghori, Riverside Press-Enterprise)