No guns in parks

Saturday, Aug. 20, a friend and I stopped at the Park Bench in Manito Park to have lunch. The park was perfect for families with toddlers, strollers, dogs and others going to eat. We were remarking on how fortunate Spokane is with wonderful parks. Then a shot broke through this pristine day.

My first words, “No not here.” My friend thought perhaps a car backfired. Soon someone ran across the street yelling “Someone has been shot.” The cell phones came out and people began leaving. The last image we saw was a person lying down screaming. A baby stroller was nearby. The police arrived. The victim had injuries but survived. The suspect said he didn’t fire the gun; it accidentally fired in his pocket. Why was a loaded gun in his pocket? Someone could have been critically wounded or killed.

The NRA and Donald Trump would support the suspect, quoting the 2nd Amendment and his right to carry a deadly weapon. The only people allowed to carry firearms in the parks should be law enforcement.

Barbara Van Leuven

Spokane