I believe that the first line of defense against violent crime is an armed citizen. I thought this would be timely, in light of the fact that our city council will be discussing whether or not law-abiding citizens who have permits to carry concealed weapons should be allowed to do so in our parks.

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I would be a wonderful circumstance if violent criminals would decide to become peaceful citizens. I think we are fooling ourselves if we think this will happen anytime soon. We must face the fact that we are a violent society.

Criminals will not abide by the signs, no matter how well-mentioned, which have been placed in our parks forbidding firearms. Regretfully, this is the harsh reality. It is in this context that, not wishing to offend anyone’s sensibilities, I offer the following:

AN EVENING IN THE PARK

If the jerk in the park wants you dead, then dead you shall be.

The cops want to be there in time to save you. They won’t be.

If the jerk wants you dead, then dead you shall be.

All is not lost if the good folks are there. One of them, he or she, may stand in the gap for your family.

The mayhem will stop when the jerk goes down. Your loved ones, though mourning, will still be around.

Just the reality, as seen by an old cop.

Jim Carman, City Councilman, Ward 3, North Platte

Carman was a North Platte police officer for 26 years and then served eight years as Lincoln County Sheriff before he gained a seat on the city council. - Editor