Dear Editor:
Recently I had been asked to provide an opinion on our local gun club and range. It had come to my attention that the results of a mail-in ballot for a black powder rendezvous was being held up with elaborate excuses by directors of the club. One of those excuses was this is a “private club,” period. End of discussion. Seems like it’s harbouring hypocrisy, because the range is on Crown land and “the club” has been on a crusade to obtain access to public roads on private land of late. Anyway, after innocently offering my opinions, there were a few replies to my criticisms – some good, some bad – over the course of a few weeks, though nothing realistic or spectacular worth mentioning. Then the club leadership decided to make me the target of their frustrations [with members of the black powder group] and played the blame game by plastering my good name onto their letterhead and sending it to the entire membership. Just to set the record straight for the public eye, I have nothing to do with the black powder group directly but somehow became the ringleader simply by offering my opinion on the sad state of the club’s affairs. The thing with slander and defamation is that it is a costly battle and a difficult case against a club or society with a membership. In any case, my lawyer’s advice rang true: “Why are you even hanging out with these jerks?” So, I made sure they understood my objection to their childish tactics with some constructive anger of my own and almost got myself charged with public mischief in the process. I’m sure they got the point. This club reminds me of those old exclusive men’s clubs that were ruled by intolerance and bred evil villains by the dozens. My family membership will go elsewhere until these villains are either gone or a new club with a more modern agenda is formed here in Merritt – or a freak accident gives me super powers!
Darrel Brooks
Merritt
