Editorial misses target

The Frontiersman editorial titled a “Loophole of the highest caliber” was written by someone whose purpose was to inflame, incite and propagate misconception. This person also has a mistrust of Alaska State Troopers and a paranoid suspicion of anyone owning firearms.

The person who authored the editorial wrote: “So, firing at or near a playground of unsuspecting children is OK, as long as one isn’t physically on school property?”

The intent here is to spread the misconception that firing at a playground is legal and, not only that, firing at a playground filled with unsuspecting children is also legal in Alaska. I cannot state the contempt I have for the arrogance contained in that proposition, much less the blatant lie fostered in the face of the law.

Firing a weapon at people is illegal. The act is assault, manslaughter, reckless endangerment or murder, depending upon the circumstances. Yet, this nameless author of this editorial would have us believe that our laws are so lax that one can use a school yard as a shooting gallery or target range with impunity. This proposition reeks with the arrogance of the left.

Federal law is draconian regarding weapons in the proximity to schools, such that only the criminal element dares to have a weapon within those bounds.

There is no doubt that the spruce hen hunter should not have been anywhere near the school during school hours. Yet, the perception of the author of the editorial is that underlying the man’s intent to have spruce hen for supper was the intent to harm the children at the school by virtue of his being armed.

I think the person who wrote the editorial has an inordinate fear of firearms and should receive counseling for that fear. I also wonder why this person mistrusts the AST’s decision process in its investigation of this matter? The contempt shown for the AST should also warrant concern.

The law is the law, and the only loophole is in the imagination of the author of the editorial.

Larry Wood

Palmer