REMARK: Veteran has his regrets

I felt it would be wise to allow the dust to settle before I responded to the Tom Hasslinger article in the Coeur d'Alene Press about my unwise and untimely comment.

On Jan. 17, 2011, I attended an informal meeting to discuss the city's plans for McEuen Field. This is a subject for which I had and have strong feelings. I left that meeting feeling frustrated at the direction LCDC, the mayor and city planners are taking Coeur d'Alene.

The next morning, the 18th, my wife informed me that Mr. Hasslinger had called and would like me to return his call. I looked forward to calling him back thinking we would discuss the McEuen Field proposal. Having completely forgotten about the comment I had made at the meeting the day before, to my surprise, the first question was what I meant by my "leaving my guns at home" comment. I told him it was a joke, not the best thought-out response, and I meant nothing by it. He then asked in the light of the tragedy that had recently taken place in Arizona, did I think I should apologize to the mayor for my comment. I told him that the tragedy in Arizona was nowhere in my mind at the time and I was only thinking of the tragedy that will take place at McEuen Field.

Still somewhat disturbed by his questioning, I told him that my comment was not directed at any one person or persons, so I felt I didn't need to apologize to anyone. It soon became evident that Mr. Hasslinger was not interested in discussing McEuen Field, but his only intent was to sensationalize a reckless comment. Out of all that was discussed the day before, this is what he dwelled on.

I am 60-plus years old and have strong, sometimes passionate, feelings. I believe in the order of law and until a law is changed, we are bound by God and man to obey them. Family, friends and associates, know me to be an honest, reliable, patriotic, God-fearing man. They also know that I am outspoken, opinionated and rarely politically correct. When Mr. Hasslinger asked me if I regretted my comment, I don't remember my exact response. In light of what has transpired as a result of this comment and his article, I have a number of regrets.

First and foremost, I regret the mental and emotional anguish this has caused my family. I regret that a man I respected found it necessary to go before the mayor and the City Council and apologize for something he had nothing to do with. I deeply regret if anyone was frightened or alarmed by my comment. I also deeply regret that we are now living in a world where the political climate is such that a single comment, unwisely made by a lone citizen, can have such an effect.

SHERMAN D. RANDOLPH

Coeur d'Alene