The violent rhetoric is shocking, and all sides should agree

As someone who not only represents eastern Colorado in the state legislature, but was born and raised in this area, I am keenly aware of the oil and gas debate in this state. I raised my family in Fort Morgan and certainly would have been first to raise concerns about safety, or compromised air and water quality if there was evidence suggesting this industry was affecting my family’s health.

While I trust this industry, I respect people’s right to disagree with me and peacefully demonstrate their beliefs. However, when a person encourages violence and destruction of property in protest to oil and gas development, I would hope people on all sides of this issue would collectively condemn such hateful rhetoric, and frankly I am shocked that’s not the case.

Recently, the Boulder Daily Camera published a letter by an activist calling for attacks against workers and property associated with Colorado’s oil and gas industry. It’s appalling that an established Colorado newspaper would publish material promoting violence against Coloradans. Considering the author, who actually called for murdering oil and gas operators, said he opposed the industry because of safety concerns, it seems outwardly contradictory to endorse harmful behavior as a form of protest.

I find it troubling that Democrats in the state Capitol uniformly opposed legislation that would have increased the penalties for activists who damage oil and gas equipment as a form of protest. Several made the point that destructive activism doesn’t happen frequently enough to warrant stiffer penalties. Yet, only a month after Democrats defeated that legislation, a delusional activist is publicly calling for acts of violence.
 

The full article is available in our e-Edition. Click here to subscribe.