GUNS: Responsible ownership

Mayor Widmyer, I was thoroughly impressed by the July 7 article in the Coeur d’Alene Press that addressed our city’s approach to mixing firearms and alcohol.

You have an incredible window of opportunity right at your fingertips.

I understand the discomfort that some downtown businesses and patrons experienced seeing such an armed response in June. There was little clear way for the businesses and customers who drive our downtown economy to know who of those armed individuals might let their emotions, or inhibitions, get the better of them while carrying a firearm.

How might that discomfort have been eased or eliminated altogether if Coeur d’Alene took a strong stance on responsible gun ownership?

We cannot be the place that ruins the reputation of responsible gun ownership by shielding those who would irresponsibly mix firearms and alcohol.

While I understand that enforcing such a provision as David Hopkins suggests would be difficult, its adoption would send a loud and clear message that North Idaho supports responsible gun ownership. I’ll say it again — we must actively support and encourage responsible gun ownership by loudly calling out irresponsible and dangerous behavior. Such leadership would go a long way to bolstering our business owners, their patrons and those who take firearm ownership seriously.

SARAH GLENN

Coeur d’Alene