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Scott, that's not how it is. I believe, like most people here, that racism and bigotry are wrong. But can we keep people out for having certain beliefs? Legally and morally that would be difficult, though I'm sure we would get together and figure out how to deal with it.

The AN cross the line into actions-- violent, criminal actions. Here is a partial tally of the damage to Kootenai county as reported by Norman Gissel, the lawyer who helped put Richard Butler out of business:

9 murders
many robberies, including a million-dollar armored car robbery
a damaged reputation as a community that welcomes the AN
intimidation and threats
incitement to acts of violence

The FBI calls them terrorists. Seems to me we ought to have some legal standing to keep them out entirely. Mr. Gissel and Mr. Stewart gave us a lot of success stories of how other communities dealt with the AN and succeeded in peacefully, legally, and non-violently getting rid of them.

posted 3 years, 2 months ago
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BTW Think Out Loud, you're paying to much attention to Mr. Mullet. He doesn't deserve it. Everything he has to say has been said thousands of times before, and he doesn't tell the truth anyway. How about you give more time to people who are worth listening to, like the editor of the Blue Mountain Eagle, like local law enforcement, like any of the many activists who banded together in record time to face down a violent threat to our community?

posted 3 years, 2 months ago
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The problem here isn't beliefs, though their beliefs are repulsive. Anyone can believe anything, and in Grant County we're progressive and tolerant to people from all walks of life. The real problem is Aryan Nations are all about violent crime and intimidation. In Kootenai County, Idaho, they have a decades-long history of murders, robberies (including a million-dollar armored car robbery), beatings, and many acts of intimidation. The FBI calls them domestic terrorists.

We don't need gangs of armed thugs doing "training" exercises on our public lands. We don't need gangs of armed thugs "patrolling" our streets. Don't let them fool you with their lies about how they are peaceful and not about hate. Because they are not, and they do not tell the truth.

posted 3 years, 2 months ago
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