The recent Barbati letter concerned people being afraid because a law-abiding citizen had two guns at a peaceful protest.

I have three main points:

First — I can assure you he was not the only one there with a weapon. Barbati then cherry picked two instances where people broke the law by shooting people. There are many instances where people break the law and injure or kill people without guns. In New York City recently a high-level police official and others were attacked by a woman with a cane. People have been stabbed, beaten, hit by cars, hammers, stones, etc. So people were fearful of a law-abiding citizen?

Second — Many of these protests become non-peaceful where protesters break, burn, loot, injure, and kill. This has been happening all across America. If that happens at any small peaceful protest where a patriot or two is carrying a weapon, people may be thankful.

Third — People become fearful of many things. Juniata College recently called the cops on a college student who sent a “hateful” e-mail that (according to the college) “... left many of our community members feeling afraid, angry, vulnerable and unsafe.” The student e-mail said students can't blame “skin color” for their problems, but perhaps from “a lack of personal responsibility, lack of growing up in a stable two-parent household, or a general disinclination for learning of the college variety.” I might concede that could lead to a feeling of anger or vulnerability, but afraid and unsafe?

The First Amendment allows us to use offensive, hurtful speech. Freedom of speech does not mean that you have to use words or phrases that a small minority of people demand. Freedom of speech means I can say Chinese virus, or American Indian or all lives matter ( Jessica Whitiker was killed recently for saying just that!) or other words or phrases without retribution. The Second Amendment allows a person to bear arms. It is not unlawful to open carry in Pennsylvania.

Our society has turned from the rule of law — people are angry or fearful, or strike out at law-abiding citizens — yet honor praise, and protect those who break the law over perceived injustices.