I have befriended various publishers over the years after being published in numerous newspapers and magazines for over 50 years.

As a Marine Vietnam veterinarian and former law enforcement officer on 100% disability from a combination of war injuries and work-related injuries, I’ve always been told to write down what you know .

When I write about crimes and riots, it’s not about race, but more specifically breaking the laws we all must obey, which leads me to a difference of opinion with an editor with whom I have become friends with over the years.

I understood his point of not wanting to publish articles about the breed whether black, white, yellow, brown or red for fear of shaking the pot which could lead to riots.

Groups like Black Lives Matter and Antifa will be offended and target you, making you the enemy if they think you are a threat to their movements. It is an affront to everything I have fought for to keep our democracy intact and the safety of our community.

There is a serious threat, but it is to our free speech rights under the First Amendment. If we don’t say what the anarchist wants us to say if they are in government or in groups like this, there will be retaliation against us, but my retort was if you live in fear of retaliation from the Black or any other race that might be the subject, then it will be you who will allow them to get away with their challenge by not allowing the truth to be told on the matter.

From my perspective, the first mistake was to stop enforcing our laws allowing criminals to rain misery on everyone.

Gregory J. Topliff

Warrenville