Dear Editor: Response to Koopman Op-Ed

Dear Editor,

I recently read Roger Koopman’s Op-Ed in the Whitehall Ledge entitled “Freedom’s Best Friend: Armed Citizens”. I agree with what I perceive to be Mr. Koopmans main premise. That is, the second amendment is a free citizen’s last resort when dialog fails with an overreaching government. A government that has evolved from a democracy to an autocracy. However, in my opinion, Mr. Koopman’s long-winded reasoning may be a somewhat misleading convoluted smoke screen in order to cover up extremist attempts to undermine Democracy, and our way of life in Montana.

Democracy in Montana is under attack by fringe elements who would tear up our state constitution and describe it as a socialist rag. These extremists have also introduced initiatives like CI-121 which could effectively transfer the tax burden from high-income individuals and out-of-staters with their trophy homes and ranches to Montana’s working men, working women, and poor. These same extreme elements are currently working with out-of-state landowners through the 454 programs to effectively dominate FWP hunting management policies, to their benefit. These extremist ideas are the seeds of autocracy. Let’s not let these seeds germinate and propagate.

Yes, Mr. Koopman, the second amendment is one of my best friends. After all, I’m simply not going to wring my hands and cry that it’s not fair if some extremist Proud Boy or Oath Keeper knocks down my door someday. Yeah, I think I’ll hang on to my firearms and ammunition.

Don Lepinsky

Whitehall, Montana