A Rant: The Patriot Front arrest in Idaho is not a laughing matter.

[wnylib]

30. Ally here, and I took it very seriously.

This weekend was the opening of the local outdoor summer market in my community. It was dedicated to Pride celebration. Three blocks worth of booths with crafts, baked goods, and early season produce. It was jam packed with LGBTQ people and friends and allies. Several people dressed in rainbow t-shirts and some draped in rainbow capes.

As I strolled along, looking at items for sale, it occurred to me that a hate-filled gun toter could show up to slaughter unsuspecting people. I began looking around to see what buildings in the area might provide shelter if that happened.

Such is the nature of the nation these days. Maybe I am a little more inclined to think of potential slaughter settings, living in NY state, not far from Buffalo where hate shootings are still very much on people's minds.

The fact that a group of haters actually planned on carrying out violence at a celebration and were stopped only by an observant person who alerted law enforcement means that the nightmare I feared in my community nearly happened in another community across the country from me.

I take all threats like this very seriously. I don't know WTF is wrong with people who carry that much hatred toward people just because they exist. But I know that the haters do exist and now feel it necessary to be on the lookout for them in all soft target settings.