POST: Siding with the Knapps

Ladies and gentlemen, hello. I am writing this letter to communicate that I am heartbroken over this issue in which the city of Coeur d’Alene has put the Knapps in. My wife and I spent Labor Day in your great town and loved it. We are willing to return again and again. Only this issue has arisen and it greatly disturbs us. How is it that a town can put its citizens in this position? To force the Knapps to do something that is totally against their religious beliefs. Something that is aberrant to them and the majority of people in the country and state. To make them pay fines and possibly go to jail.

This issue should be decided by the “free market,” not by force. This law is bad and unconstitutional. I am asking that this law be struck down, now. This is not the American way or the way the Founding Fathers could have envisioned.

If this continues in the way that this council has set forth, then I will not spend a dime not only in your town, but even the surrounding area. I also will send money to this couple to aid in their defense against you, and I will make trips to your town and demonstrate on your sidewalks with signs. I hope I am clear on this with this council and chamber. I will also make sure that like-minded people in my area know what is going on and encourage them to go other places and spend their money in places other than your town.

I hope that fair-minded people come up with fair minded solutions. If this letter is course to you, good, it is meant to be. And I do not make idle threats, only promises.

BRYAN L. MARTIN

Council