Canyon shooting incidents get ignored

Land of the free and the home of the brave. Picture yourself fishing by the river, children passing slowly by on their ATVs, people gathered talking, someone walking their dog, and into the midst of this idyllic, lazy summer day, a white pickup pulls up, someone jumps out and starts shooting indiscriminately,

Is this happening somewhere in an inner city, in some obscure ghetto where violence is the order of the day? No, this is just another “normal” Saturday afternoon in Hungry Horse.

Imagine if someone got out of their car and started shooting in Woodland Park in Kalispell, where children were playing and people were out walking around enjoying the afternoon. It would be all over the news, and police would by everywhere.

But as the shooting occurs in Hungry Horse, all that happens is that, when some brave soul rushes over and tells them to stop, they are greeted by a hail of obscenities, which continue as the shooter gets back in their pickup and drives off, offended by having their shooting fun/recreation interrupted.

How is it possible that this is normal and accepted behavior for Hungry Horse? Hungry Horse has become a place to raise hell, rather than a place to raise a family. Hungry Horse is such a beautiful spot for a small town; things should be different.

S. Birks lives in Hungry Horse.