As a former resident of North Bend, and a subscriber to the

Record, I have a topic of interest that I believe needs to be addressed.

A few months ago, my wife was involved in a minor incident in

North Bend, and was questioned by the local constabulary (King

County Sheriff’s Office) in North Bend. While being interviewed, the officer

involved showed her a file that had been gathered and put together on myself,

her husband. That file contained copies of all of the letters to the editor of

the local newspapers.

When she told me this, upon her return home, the following day, I

was awestruck by the fact that our law enforcement entities are compiling

dossiers of letters to the editor written to the newspapers by anyone.

Why, exactly, are they doing this?

It is our constitutional right to express our opinions, or at least that

is what we all have been lead to believe! I get somewhat uncomfortable when

I learn that law enforcement authorities are compiling dossiers on us,

merely by exercising our constitutional rights. At some future date, are our

opinions going to be used against us?

If at some future date we are arrested or questioned by law

enforcement, are these letters to be used as evidence against us? To those

others of you, like myself, who take the time to express your opinions, as our

Constitution dictates, are you aware that your letters may be used in

evidence against you?

Interesting question, don’t you think?

RICHARD L. NEUSCHAEFER

Kalispell, MT