Proposed cuts in the local Miami-Dade County budget that could lead to the firing of hundreds of law enforcement officers have led one police association spokesman to issue a stark warning to local citizens: Better buy some guns.

John Rivera, the president of the Miami-Dade Police Benevolent Association, bluntly told residents to “get yourself some firearms” after Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez announced his budget proposal for the upcoming year, a local Fox affiliate reported.

The proposal would lead to nearly 650 government job cuts in order to bridge a $64 million shortfall, and the mayor said police might feel the biggest pinch if its labor union doesn’t make concessions.

“If the mayor’s not going to provide security, then my recommendation, as an experienced law enforcement officer for nearly 40 years, is either buy yourself an attack dog, put bars on your windows and get yourself some firearms because you’re going to had to protect yourselves. We won’t be able to,” Mr. Rivera said.

Specialized police units that focus on robberies and child abuse could lose positions, the affiliate reported.

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