BATES COUNTY, MO (KSHB) Reacting to the deadliest mass murder shooting in U.S. history, a Missouri sheriff is waiving any fees for people wanting a five-year concealed carry permit in his county during the month of June.

Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson announced the decision in a Facebook post Monday afternoon, saying in part:

“I feel that I have a duty to protect the citizens while here in Bates County and allow them to be able to protect themselves and their loves ones while they are away” and “I will not put blinders on and act like this cannot happen here or to people we know and love.”

The move only affects people living in Bates County and also comes with a waiver of fees for a sheriff’s office-taught CCW class. The fee for a CCW permit is $100.

“I think it’s a great decision by our sheriff because I think it’s one of the safest ways we as Americans have to protect ourselves is with ourselves,” said Immanuel Baptist Church Pastor Jeff Connell. “If someone came into church with a gun, I would rather have my members have a gun to protect themselves than having nothing to protect themselves against one.”

“Properly trained and responsible adults. I think if we had more people out there that were responsible concealed carriers, I think we’d have a lot less of this going on,” said Dennis Barr, who was who was traveling through Butler.

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