To the Editor:"Creating A Safer, Less Intimindating Environment," Letter Hive, 2/5/16 ] is part of today's standard gun control narrative. This rhetoric continues to foster animosity, and a very divisive environment between "us and them". The local gun control movement, clearly has a mission that many of us do not necessarily agree with.We are not the problem, and we are certainly not the enemy!

My family still feels extreme sadness, every time we leave our driveway and pass by those homes on our street, where innocent children, and a loving mother and wife, were needlessly taken from their families, on December 14, 2012. We are a local business owner and Sandy Hook residents for nearly 25 years.

Most of Ms Murray's overall commentary, and the information she chooses to cite [

Ms Murray's gun control narrative, has the same underlying theme she cited in her first paragraph, where politicians are attempting to strong arm the business community as well. Ms Murray's last paragraph included the following statement: "We strongly recommend that all business owners in New-town join our movement to create a safer and less intimidating environment for our children and families by banning all guns in their establishments." With all due respect Ms. Murray, your statement is totally disingenuous, as our environment is not at all intimidating. The threat of boycotts by some residents as you noted, is in fact intimidating.

This kind of conversation, continues to perpetuate a negative and divisive narrative between the two sides of this sensitive firearms issue. Attempting to strong arm the business community, really seems quite self-serving. Business owners, do not need to be drawn into this debate, further complicating their ability to operate their business in a very challenging economic environment.

While I am sure Ms. Murray's mission may be founded on good intention, not everyone in Newtown, or Connecticut for that matter, subscribes to her group's philosophy on gun control. There are more than 250,000 law abiding citizens in Connecticut, who on a daily basis safely exercise their rights to carry a firearm, in accordance with state law. And yes, when we go shopping for bread, eggs, and juice, we often chose to carry our firearm.

I ask all business owners to please consider the following: recognize that those who chose to carry a firearm are your neighbors. Our children go to the same schools, they play the same sports, and share the same buses. We shop at your stores, we eat at your restaurants, and stop at your delis for sandwiches. We pay taxes, and sit shoulder to shoulder to each other in churches and synagogues while trying to live our lives just like everyone else. Legally permitted gun owners who chose to carry their fire-arms for personal safety are in fact good neighbors, and do not pose a threat to you and others who frequent your business.

Respectfully,

Neal Berko

44 Great Ring Road, Sandy Hook     February 10, 2016