Citizens, arm yourselves

This letter is written in response to “Man charged in motorcycle death appears in court,” (S-R, Nov. 18).

The driver who struck the motorcycle, Varsel M. Jarnagin had “… ingested heroin, meth and/or marijuana the night before, thus driving with a delayed or altered perception and reaction time.” He has, “… a lengthy criminal record … arrested at least 25 times in the past 20 years … domestic assault and heroin trafficking,” and has “15 misdemeanor convictions since 1992, including theft, battery, druge possession, disturbing the peace and violations of a protection order.”

My question is, why was this habitual, violent criminal still on the street where he could (eventually) kill someone? My next question is the local court system not willing to protect its non-criminal citizens? (Or perhaps cannot? Enter the A.C.L.U., so self-named, “All Criminals Love Us.”) The underlying message is, “Citizens arm yourselves because we will not protect you.”

So I am responding to that message. Under my Christmas tree will be a weapon. Have a peaceful, merry Christmas.

William R. Smith

Spokane