Editorial was 'a step too little'

Regarding Tuesday's Gazette editorial “A step too far,” which was critical of the mailing by Marion's police chief that provided “no weapons” stickers to businesses with encouragement to post on their property: While I appreciate criticism concerning the manner in which this action took place, I am frustrated by the lack of a full accounting by the city and media.

Chief Harry Daugherty did secure a correction in The Gazette, stating that it was not necessary for a property to post “no weapons” messages to get police assistance for that policy and trespassing rules. However, the correction missed the opportunity for rectification.

The Gazette could have published the following, as I quote from Chief Daugherty in an e-mail to me:

“Businesses do not have to have a sticker displayed to enforce criminal trespass. If we are called because a patron was carrying a weapon or not and has been asked to leave but refuses to do so, we will tell the individual to leave. ... If the individual does not leave, they would be arrested and charged with criminal trespass. If ... the owner wants to ban this individual ..., they would be informed ... by the officer. If the individual shows up again, they would be arrested. If the individual shows up and hasn't been banned, the process starts over. ... This is standard procedure for criminal trespass and is no different from before the gun law changes.”

I find the editorial to be “A step too little.”

Gary Hughes

Marion