Former Sheriff concerned about emotional toll of shootings on law enforcement

The numbers are staggering. Twelve officers were gunned down in Dallas, five of them killed, while another three officers were killed in Baton Rouge and three wounded. All within the last ten days. The violence is hard on everyone but especially those in law enforcement.

"It doesn't matter who they are, what they represent. It's simply, 'They've got a uniform on, and we're going to kill them.' I've never heard of anything like this in our country," said Mo. State Senator Mike Parson, a republican, who is also a law enforcement and U.S. military veteran.

Parson said he has experienced loss before. A young deputy was killed in the line of duty when he was sheriff.

"I cannot imagine being a law enforcement officer today of any kind: you put a uniform on, you put your badge your gun, vest on, and you have to look over your shoulder wonder if somebody's going to shoot you that you have no idea it's coming. That's the reality of how do you prepare for that. You don't prepare for that. It's the risk you take, and if we ever get police officers where they dont want to respond or hesitant to respond, that's where people like you and me watching this is going to understand how critical this is," Parson said.

Parson said the emotional toll the current climate takes on both officers and their families it what concerns him most of all.

"It affects all of those guys: mentally, physically, it affects them. It affects them for a long time, because now that's on their mind," Parson said.

The question is how to move forward from the current climate. Parson believes tougher laws and sentences for those who target officers and said politicians should work to build unity and avoid using tragedies to highlight political issues.