This is to urge Idahoans to oppose HB 475, a bill to legalize private militias in Idaho.

First, the bill would be unconstitutional. The United States Constitution clearly gives the right to bear arms to members of a “well-regulated militia.” Idaho and Washington law says the definition of “well-regulated” means controlled by the government.

During the previous president’s administration, conservative legislators legalized that mentally ill people could own guns. I recall the toddler who pulled his mother’s gun out of a purse in a shopping cart in North Idaho and shot his mother dead. Now shootings are a regular occurrence.

Christians are forgetting what Jesus preached about turning swords into plowshares. When are we going to start practicing what Christ taught?

During the recent Coeur d’Alene militia experience, I personally observed really old people and kids barely big enough to hold a gun milling around Sherman Avenue. I was told by friends at the Chamber of Commerce that many of the militia were drinking and that many people were afraid to go shopping downtown.

A conservative friend told me there were 2,500 Antifa coming to Coeur d’Alene and claimed the militia scared them off. To me, it just meant there was no Antifa threat in the first place.

In my opinion, we would be safer with fewer guns, not more. Please oppose HB 475.

GARY A. EDWARDS

Post Falls

N. Idaho since ’41