This letter was published on August 26, 2009

Dear editor:

As one who was quoted in your article on Coburn Hill Road, I feel some of my comments appeared in a different context than that in which they were given.

I never said the survivalist group was an "odd combination of Christianity and survivalism," even though one could get that impression from the article. The only reason I mentioned their target practice at all was to explain why I think it odd that the survivalists claim my guests trespass on their property. Not only would my guests never trespass, but many are even afraid to venture anywhere near the property line, fearing that stray bullets from next door could hit people in my woods.

Secondly, my "Sodom and Gomorrah" comment was spoken off the record. It was just a colorful way of expressing my impression that they seem to have moral issues with the Firefly festival. In trying to stop Firefly, they claimed we are unsanitary, we harm the environment, and we engage in criminal acts. Because these tales are false, I imagine they find us disagreeable on moral grounds, but since that won't turn others against us, they invent bizarre stories about us. This is too bad, because for years I would defend the reputation of the survivalists whenever local folks would speak poorly of them. Not anymore.

They claim to be libertarians, yet they try to dictate what I do on my property while reserving the right to do as they please on their own. This is sad.

Sandra Charron

Craftsbury