GUNS: Leave it to police

Law and order helps to define our Democracy. We have trained uniformed police to protect us and insure all protests are orderly and safe. Coeur d’Alene is not Minneapolis in size nor demographics. There was a small group standing on Appleway holding signs on racial justice. None appeared threatening as I drove by. Simply people who felt strongly about the death of George Floyd. That’s good and that’s their right.

The Tuesday headline in the Coeur d’Alene Press referenced protest and patriots. The main purpose of the article was to report the news of activity on Sherman Avenue in the evening. Well-armed people dressed more to go camping than to be in downtown Coeur d’Alene were “protecting” the stores.

This concern for such unsolicited protection was motivated by a totally false story on social media. According to NBC News, a fake Twitter site created by the white nationalist group Identity Evropa posted claims of protesters on buses coming to loot communities.

Why are these people with guns lining up on Sherman Avenue? What are they protesting? Protection of private property is what our police do and do well. Did the Police Chief deputize these people? If not, then why are they on our streets, intimidating shoppers, pedestrians and possibly some tourists?

It doesn’t sound good for business nor particularly safe. I place my trust in our police, not in untrained gun-toting individuals with their own agenda, which I doubt is in line with our Constitution. Patriots, I think not.

PHIL WARD

Coeur d’Alene