Dear Editor,

Terrorism is an egregious act designed to instill fear in people so deep and so entrenched in our psyches that the results are paralytic. PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) is the result. School shootings are one form of terrorism.

In today’s world none of us is immune to this process. Unfortunately the re-occurrence of violent acts reinforces our instability as a society.

The 24-hour coverage by the news media has played an important role in reinforcing this instability.

The TSA with their color coded system of green (no threat), blue, yellow, orange and red (severe and imminent threat of attack) is another form of reinforcing this instability.

The NRA screaming about Second Amendment rights being ripped from our bosoms is also creating a hostile and unstable environment.

We all need to step back and take a look at the real underlying issue. We have let fear creep in silently and our base is being eroded by it.

Parents are fearful to send their kids to school. Kids look around their classrooms silently identifying who might be most likely to be a shooter in their school. Grandparents shake their heads and wonder what in the world is happening in our country, and otherwise normal people are hoarding guns and weapons, building bomb shelters and bunkers and collecting food, water and provisions for when our society, as we know it, collapses completely. Look at the opioid epidemic sweeping our country. We have lost our ability to “cope” as a nation.

I believe the solution lies within our communities. Real solutions are always “Grass Roots Movements.” I support the kids of Marjory Stoneman Douglas school who are organizing the walk-out in March, and I will support any kids here who want to join them. I encourage you to do the same.

The greatest “weapon of mass destruction” in our society is fear!

Marlene Petersen
Sandpoint