Broward County Sheriff’s Office Oversaw Concealed-Carry Training for Mosque-Goers

The Broward County Sheriff’s Office oversaw a training session led by one of its deputies to teach mosque-goers how to carry a concealed weapon.

Sheriff Scott Israel officially oversaw the side job of Deputy Nezar Hamze, a Muslim American, as regional operations director for the Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), according to documents obtained by National Review from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. Israel had a representative sign for him on the form that gave Hamze permission to work for CAIR.

A substantial element of Hamze’s position at CAIR involved teaching Muslim Americans about civil rights, safety and security. In 2015, the deputy held a training session at a Florida mosque and demonstrated how to respond to an active shooter situation with a concealed firearm.

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“Nezar has served the Florida Muslim community as a leader who has focused on Civil Rights, Safety and Security, countering the narrative of violent extremists and terrorist organizations,” Hamze’s CAIR profile states.

Sheriff Scott Israel said he is against arming teachers to defend against a school shooting, a proposal backed by President Trump after last month’s tragedy.

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