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Pinal County is located southeast of Phoenix, Arizona in the beautiful Sonoran Desert. This is the image that many people associate with Arizona. It includes saguaro, desert, and stark terrain. Sheriff Mark Lamb is the law in this setting for a cowboy Western.
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The American Sheriff Mark Lamb
This tall, larger than life lawman is complete with a cowboy hat and is known as the American Sheriff. In 2017, he was elected the 24th sheriff in Pinal County. Lamb oversees a county as large as Connecticut and oversees over 650 employees.
Pinal County is right in my backyard, and Sheriff Lamb was kind enough to meet me at the range to discuss guns, law enforcement, and where it all is headed. Lamb was born in Hawaii and raised there, but his roots are in Chandler, Arizona. He attended junior high there and graduated from Chandler High School. His deep connection to Arizona has made him a popular figure. He is well-known not only among Pinal County residents, but also across the country.
Gunslinging
It was Arizona’s dead of winter, which means that it was 72 degrees when Sheriff came up to the range. After a quick handshake we began to talk shop. Personally, I have witnessed a steady evolution in duty guns for law enforcers. The days of FBI running.38 Colt Detective Specials are gone. Instead, the push is toward larger capacity handguns.
Today’s push for higher capacity means that the FBI no longer runs.38 Colt Detective Specials. Sheriff Lamb shared that when he started, he had a Glock 22 with.40 S&W chamber. “I switched to a Glock 35 when I went to SWAT to get the 1-inch longer slide.
Like other LE professionals, Sheriff Lamb’s gun choice was not based upon brand loyalty but on performance. I asked him about the Pinal County’s current duty weapon.
He said, “We had representatives of all the major companies send guns and our instructors went through them all and tested them all.” “In the end, we chose the Glock 17M.” Durability was a major factor. However, he noted that “we are seeing a new generation struggling with shooting” and that the 9mm is simply more manageable.
New Calls for Duty
We continued to discuss evolution. Sheriff Lamb pointed out that officers should be as sharp as possible. Therefore, we will also be focusing on optics for handguns.
I’ve seen this evolution firsthand, and actually had a gun that was part of it.
Walther refers to the PDP as Red Dot Ergonomics. This design allows shooters maximize the benefits of using a red dot sight. (Photo by Straight8Photos) The Walther PDP full-size 9mm pistol is a new model that fits the criteria for a good-duty gun. The new PDP is built around what I believe to be the future handguns, which are pistols that are designed around the red-dot optical. All new PDP versions come with optics-ready mounting plates that can be used with any major optic. Walther has gone further and designed the gun with Red Dot Ergonomics, according to the company. This design allows shooters to maximize the benefits of using a red-dot on pistols.
Sheriff Lamb was excited to try a new gun. We rigged up and went downrange. I had my own opinion about the gun, but I was curious to hear what the Sheriff thought. His summary: “I liked the gun a lot. It was especially nice that it had an optical on it. It was easy to use and fit my larger hand very well.
Sheriff Mark Lamb found that the Walther Performance Duty Pistol was very accurate. (Photo by Straight 8 Photo)Nines & Signs Of The Time
We stood admiring the group that he had taken (the accompanying photo was real! We then reexamined the current situation of new officers in the field. They are committed, but many lack the experience that many experienced officers have when they first started.
Sheriff Lamb stated, “It may sound harsh to say, but they don’t grow up shooting and fighting and doing the same things we did 20 or 30-years ago.” “Maybe it’s less manual labor, but I don’t know if the strength is there. “Transitioning to 9mm has been a success.” He also demonstrated his true dedication to his constituents by explaining how 9mm ammunition is cheaper and, in turn puts less burden on taxpayers.
More downrange
My day at the range was too short for me. I could have talked with Sheriff Lamb for hours. It is clear that he is the American Sheriff. He was the same man you see on TV and in interviews.
His bio on the county website sums it all: “As an constitutional conservative, Mark has strong convictions. He is courageous in fighting to protect the citizens he serves.” Mark strongly believes in our Republic, our Constitution, and is a strong supporter for our Second Amendment rights. He is also committed to the enforcement of all laws, including those pertaining to illegal immigration. He is determined to protect the rights of the people he serves.
The author walks on the range with Sheriff Mark Lamb. (Photo by Straight 8 Photographs)Athlon Outdoors Video Drop
We didn’t leave you hanging! Be sure to check out Combat Handguns’ exclusive video content with Sheriff Mark Lamb at personaldefenseworld.com. Our publishing partners, Skillset magazine, have a great podcast featuring Sheriff Lamb. You can listen to it at SkillsetMag.com
(Photo by Straight 8 Photographs) This article was originally published in Combat Handguns May/June 20,21 issue. Subscription is available in print and digital editions at OutdoorGroupStore.com. Call 1-800-284-5668 or email [email protected]
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Pinal County is located southeast of Phoenix, Arizona in the beautiful Sonoran Desert. This is the image that many people associate with Arizona. It includes saguaro, desert, and stark terrain. Sheriff Mark Lamb is the law in this cowboy Western setting. The American Sheriff […]
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