Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has announced his volunteer mall patrols will be working outside Valley stores for the 22nd straight holiday season.  But, this year, the sheriff is effectively deputizing shoppers with valid handgun permits, asking them to take action should a terrorist situation develop like recent events in Paris or Colorado Springs.

“I’m asking the citizens that have concealed weapons, which is over a quarter of a million, to take any action appropriate before law enforcement shows up,” Arpaio said.

The sheriff said he’s seen no major problems in Arizona with the state's gun laws and believes people who carry weapons could help contain the situation when a gunman starts shooting until law enforcement arrives on the scene.