Rumors spur talks on gun rights, police funding

Unfounded rumors of the possible defunding of the Kalispell police force as well as the restriction of firearms in public led more than a hundred citizens to attend the Kalispell City Council meeting Monday evening.

While there was nothing on the agenda pertaining to either issue, the council heard from both sides as it listened for more than an hour and half as over two-dozen citizens voiced their opinions during the public comment portion of the meeting.

“I think probably one of the worst things that has happened this last two or three months has been social media,” council member Chad Graham said to a nearly empty room after the public comment ended. “One thing gets out there and then it is like a terrible game of telephone...If you see something on Facebook or social media and you want to know exactly what it is all about, contact any of us. Grabbing what you see on Facebook and running with it is not a recipe for success.”

Mayor Mark Johnson agreed, stating he was thankful for all of those who came out to voice their opinions, but that he thought there was a lot of misinformation or lack of information shared among the different people who came to give input.

While there was a general consensus among the speakers that the June 6 Black Lives Matter protest at Depot Park went off without a hitch, there were several in attendance concerned about the mix of protesters and a number of armed citizens at the same event.

Allan McGarvey, who stated he has been participating in peaceful protests since age 9, said he was proud of how the city handled the protest, but was concerned about the mixture of protesters and firearms.

“I think Kalispell distinguished itself as a place where people of different views can assemble and strongly voice their views while preserving those bonds of community, of safety and tolerance that hold our community together,” he said. “I speak tonight to raise to the attention of our community and this council the concern that we must have of the inherent danger that is presented when the highly combustible fuel of shouted civil outrage and the parallel fears of looting and desecration are placed alongside the march of militarized forces which are not operating in strict subordination to the civil power.”

While McGarvey argued that such forces must operate in subordination to civil power, District 8 Rep. John Fuller, R-Kalispell, disagreed, saying that any such statement is contrary to the U.S. and Montana Constitutions.

Brett Kelly of Kalispell, who started a Facebook page for citizens concerned about possible violence at the protest, said many carrying firearms supported the Black Lives Matter movement, but felt the show of force would help discourage rioting and violence.

“The pain and destruction the people are watching daily has created real fear in a number of residents in the Flathead Valley and Kalispell. Allowing them to exercise their First and Second Amendment rights on June 6 was the best thing that could have happened,” he said. “I can tell you from firsthand experience that the fear is real and it is here. Numbers, literally thousands, of locals are concerned about what is going on. June 6th was an example of how things should be. More communities should come together like that.”

Not everyone agreed.

Valeri McGarvey said she attended the protest with her family and was shocked to see what she described as “heavily armed men,” stating the sight did not make her feel safe.

Kalispell Regional Medical Center nurse Tara Lee, stating she deals with many victims of gun violence, said that not only did she feel safer with police instead of armed citizens but that the sight of the armed men “terrified” her 8-year-old daughter and led to her leaving the protest.

“To have that many firearms in a location with two opposing groups of people is asking for a disaster,” she said.

Several others showed their support for local law enforcement, praising their handling of the situation, including the de-escalation of a tense confrontation between one protester with a knife and a man with a firearm.

“Anyone who thinks for one second about defunding or reforming our local law enforcement is assuming the worst, when they should be appreciating the absolute best,” Bill Miles of Kalispell said. “The media would make you believe that all cops are bad. The actions of four individuals in Minneapolis do not represent the outstanding work by our local law enforcement. People should unite for a safe and better tomorrow.”

While the council could not respond during the public comment portion of the meeting, council member Sid Daoud did issue a statement of behalf of the city after nearly all of the crowd had left the meeting.

“The city of Kalispell acknowledges the civil strife here and around the country today. We wish to respectively stand together with our black community members in support of their equal rights and against any intrusion on the same,” he read. “Kalispell is a community made up of many races and we are grateful for the diversity that strengthens us. We also acknowledge that, as a predominantly white community, we wish to listen to and understand issues that affect our racial diverse community members so that we can ensure to keep a safe and equitable environment for all.”

Mayor Johnson followed with a plea that everyone should think about the perspective and perception of minorities living in the community.

“I just don’t perceive racism as a problem here. I say that as the white guy from Whitefish, Montana, living in Kalispell,” Johnson said before sharing the perspective of his adopted daughter, who was born in Korea. When the family visited Korea for the first time when she was 8, he said she commented on how different it was to be the normal-looking one while the rest of her family looked out of place. Johnson said the experience really opened his eyes.

“This is a very disturbing time for everyone in our country. Disturbing not from the standpoint of neighbor to neighbor, but disturbing because of the events that are happening that we see are being reported. It’s what’s being thrown in front of us on 24/7 news. It’s what’s thrown out on social media. What I encourage everyone to do is to step back and focus on making change at the community level. We need the national leaders to lead at that level. I don’t know, with the current makeup of Congress, if they can ever lead. It’s up to councils like us and communities like ours to step forward and do what’s right for our community.”

Reporter Jeremy Weber may be reached at 758-4446 or jweber@dailyinterlake.com.