Dear Ashevilleans,
Relax newbies, this level of harassment is fairly normal, even the shooting. The only real news about the shooting is that it was a Fire Department officer instead of another type and the person fired on was white. Otherwise, this and [an earlier] Sheriff's deputy incident … are actually quite par for the course. Don't you play golf? Welcome to the South!
If you didn't like the harassment, then why did you move here? Come now, this is nothing new. I can't count the number of times the Sheriff's Department has cooked up notions in order to do fishing expeditions. If you haven't experienced it, then we need to get you indoctrinated in how its done up here. Sure, the Asheville Police Department has made threats in all kinds of situations—ask my kids or students—but how often have they Tasered or tackled anybody lately? Are they making up tales on you, now? Storytelling is a fine mountain tradition.
Bicyclists are just another way to play chicken: It's not the motorist's life, so it's safer than hitting light poles.
The funniest part is that we pay them to do this to us and encourage them keep it up!
Who is the joke on?
Stay out of the cross hairs if you dare.
— Andrew Weatherly
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