Perhaps I am naïve in believing our county is a haven, a veritable (apologies to Robert Black) Island in the Rockies. Anyone at Constitution Week in Grand Lake last weekend may have believed otherwise as they read the vitriol on the back of many T-shirts displaying a map of Grand County centered with a gun sight – wrapped with the headline “G.O.P. TARGETS GRAND COUNTY.”

I have enjoyed 50 years in Grand County because we accept anyone, we always agree to disagree (especially about politics) and we focus on helping meet the needs of our neighbors, our communities and our families. 

I am disappointed in what I truly hope is a small minority of Grand County republicans. I am also certain no one in our county suggests using violence to make a political point. Unfortunately, if you invite trouble to your door, it will more than likely come knocking. 

It is the basic responsibility of the adults in the Grand County room to model basic human respect to ensure all of us can remain safe in our Middle Park neighborhood. 

The majority county vote for three major Democratic candidates in our county in the last election was historic, proving current Republican messaging is not selling well with local voters. I sincerely hope my county neighbors will agree the toxic message espoused on these T-shirts will not sell well, either.

Andy Miller
Fraser