Snohomish City council member Steve Dana said “it’s a sad state of affairs” when we have to consider that there may be violence during this election process. Many of us might add that it’s also a sad state of affairs when folks feel they have to bring their “big irons” to town to right some perceived wrong and prove their “patriotism.” Strapping a gun on your hip or packing an AR around like the Russians have invaded looks kind of childish and amusing except there’s nothing funny about all the things that could happen. What happens, for instance, when the opposition also displays firearms? Do you proceed to shoot each other? Is that how democracy works?

A would agree that the “adults” in charge of things these days, especially nationally, have done a miserable job in so many areas, of running this country and it’s not all just one party, but insisting that it be “my way or the highway” in getting your way or making yourself heard behind the barrel of a gun is the way of Afghanistan or Syria or so many more.

Majority rules in this country. Any attempt to change that by violence will make us just another failed nation like the many that have failed before us. History is a good teacher and we aren’t very good students if we haven’t learned that by now.

Don Curtis

Stanwood