Frontiersman editorial missed the point about Valley crime

Your editorial on April 5, 2016, was well worded but poorly aimed.

You reference the recent shooting of Codey Tallman by a citizen as an example of wrong-headed vigilantism that endangers the public, but it is the opposite. The shooter was well within his rights, and the gun didn’t even enter the equation until well after the third time that Tallman allegedly threatened the shooter by charging at him a third time. In their first encounter, the citizen saw a strange man on his property and he ordered the man off. That man then allegedly assaulted the resident by shoving him to the ground. Alaska Statutes clearly allow for a citizen’s arrest in the event of a misdemeanor or felony crime committed in one’s presence and against that person. The citizen chased, and Tallman turned around and assaulted him a second time. Still no gun. The citizen got up and Tallman allegedly charged at him a third time and final time. In fear of his life, the resident fired his gun to protect his life.

According to the definition, a vigilante is a self-appointed person or group who takes the law into their own hands without legal authority. In fact, this case is the opposite – state statutes specifically state that a resident can arrest a person for committing a crime in their presence. But the core of your accusation remains – is a person who protects their property a vigilante?

The Mat-Su Borough is the second largest municipality in the State of Alaska, yet at any given time we have fewer than 20 law enforcement officers on duty covering an area the size of Ireland. Spread out, they are outnumbered by the sheer population of thieves, burglars, and criminals of other type.

A vigilante is someone who drives around and pulls people over who they feel are driving dangerously. A vigilante is someone who looks up the warrants list online and tries to detain a wanted person in hopes of getting a reward. A vigilante is someone who causes trouble and then just kills someone they feel is a criminal because they have no faith in the Alaska Court System. A vigilante is someone who buys drugs and then tries to arrest that person, despite not having the legal authority to have performed a “sting.” A vigilante is someone who sets up their own bait car.

Someone who protects their life after trying to exercise their legal right under Alaska Statute 11.81.390, “Use of Force By a Private Person in Making Arrest or Terminating An Escape,” is not a vigilante – they are a role model of how to make a difference and refuse to be a victim. The resident did not display or draw a weapon until the third assault against him. He didn’t rush at Tallman with a gun drawn to “protect his property,” which is not legal in Alaska. He only brought the gun out when he felt his life was threatened.

If more residents were as trained, equipped, and ready as the resident in this case, the Mat-Su would be a much safer place.

People who believe our Legislature isn't listening, our Court & Corrections are not listening. They are sick of the “Soft On Crime,” touchy feely attitude of many legislators and court judges and other officials who only care about the dollar. Meanwhile hardworking honest citizens who have been victims of people just like Tallman have been ignored. Tallman threatened several people I know and you would be writing a different story if he had busted into a home with children, as he obviously had no hesitation at blowing past a school bus w/red flashing lights at 80 MPH.

So before trying to give “Ole” Larson a black eye for the comments of a few, maybe knowledge of the law and common sense should prevail. Maybe before trying to crucify a good citizen, you should write about how the social fabric of our communities are being ripped apart by drugs or how 81 percent of crime in Alaska is property crime.

Just a thought.

Wasilla’s Tricia Harvey is a co-admin for the Stop Valley Thieves Facebook page.