Sheriff Joe: Maricopa schools to be patrolled by armed 'posses.' Feel safer?

America's worst sheriff Well, that didn't take long. The push to "protect" our schools by having a self-selected group of armed, self-selected vigilantes wander around looking for folks that might need to be shot has found an eager champion:

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's armed volunteer posses are set to begin patrolling areas around Phoenix, Ariz. schools on Monday, more than a week after the plan drew national attention in the wake of the deadly mass shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn.

Arizona's 3TV reports that Arpaio's volunteer force is comprised of around 3,000 members, some of which have criminal pasts.

"Some of which have criminal pasts" is a nice touch, but you know the kind of persons who really, really shouldn't be patrolling the perimeters of public schools while carrying loaded weapons? Anyone who would sign up for an unpaid program to do that sort of thing. Also, anyone who thinks highly enough of Sheriff Joe to be associated with him.

Like most things proposed by the NRA and/or executed by America's least competent sheriff, the "success" of this effort will be measured exclusively by whether or not any of Arpaio's 3,000 would-be George Zimmermans manage to refrain from shooting anyone while they're wandering the neighborhood looking for troublemakers. No word yet on whether students will be banned from carrying Skittles, however.

Feel safer yet?