Thank heaven for the sheep dogs' protection

I read with interest, the letter by Georgia York regarding the men carrying firearms in a public place in Sandpoint.

How could they? What were they thinking? Why in our little berg? I’m sure that is what many of the victims in Aurora were thinking … who needs a gun in a movie theater?

Well, Georgia, as wonderful as Sandpoint is, it is not safe from evil people. And as awesome as our law enforcement and first responders are, their job is not to follow us around and ensure our safety every second of every day. Their main job is to respond — after you have been attacked, to bag the body and fill out the reports, then look for and, hopefully find, the perpetrator. We are responsible for our own security and safety.

Did the guns on those mens’ hips harm or endanger you? Did you suffer any injury other than your bruised sensibility? If the wonderful state of Idaho and our liberal firearms freedoms offend you, maybe you should move somewhere where guns are basically outlawed … like Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles or Washington, D.C. You know, the places with the highest murder rates in America.

Idaho is so safe, precisely because bad people know that good people have guns. If you are going to be a sheep, you should thank God for the sheep dogs!

MICHAEL D. PHILLIPS

Clark Fork