Let me first state some things:
Violence is without morality, and the morality of using violence depends on the situation. Simply, killing terrorists in Afghanistan = good, whilst criminals attacking a person = bad.

There's a large portion of people in this country who can't seem to understand that, and view all violence as inherently evil. It seems that this ignorance has led to a a situation in Colorado where some local idjits are protesting a planned statue of a soldier who died in Afghanistan - because the soldier is holding a gun and the statue is going to be near a school.

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_5595985

A group of Littleton parents is opposing the design and location of a memorial to a fallen local Navy SEAL, Danny Dietz, who died in combat in Afghanistan two years ago.

They say the statue, depicting Dietz clutching an automatic rifle, glorifies violence. In Berry Park, it would be within blocks of three schools and two playgrounds.

"I don't think young children should be exposed to that in that way - unsupervised by their parents or any adults," said Emily Cassidy, one of the mothers.

The parents have circulated fliers opposing the design and location of the statue at the southeast corner of South Lowell Boulevard and West Berry Avenue, in a triangle formed by Goddard Middle School, Community School for the Gifted and Centennial Elementary School.

...

"It broke our hearts," said Dan Dietz, who still lives in the area. "My son was fighting for her freedom to do exactly what she is doing. She put my son in the same category as Columbine. How does she have the audacity to do that?"

On June 28, 2005, Dietz and three other Navy SEALs were ambushed by al-Qaeda guerrillas. Dietz, 25, severely wounded, fought off attackers for more than 45 minutes, allowing one of his team members to escape.

Dietz received the Navy Cross, the Navy's second-highest medal.

"The people who have never served in the armed forces are always the ones who speak the loudest against what the armed forces have done," said Allan Stone of the Pat Hannon VFW Post No. 4666 in Littleton, which helped raise nearly $42,000 for the sculpture.

Cassidy said the opposition is in no way meant to offend the family or denigrate Dietz's service.

"We have absolutely no issue with the family, and we have only good feelings for the soldier and what he did for this country," Cassidy said.

Kelli Narde, spokeswoman for the city of Littleton, said complaints about the statue are arriving "at the eleventh hour," too late to change the statue, which has already been cast.

"We're proceeding with the plan," she said.

"This opposition has come as a complete surprise; it's been such a public process."

Narde said Cuesta is the only person to formally approach the council about relocating the statue. It will be unveiled in Berry Park on July 4, the second anniversary of the recovery of Dietz's body on a mountainside in Afghanistan.

Cassidy and Cuesta said the memorial was no secret, but the parents opposing it had no idea the rifle would be a focal point.

And while war memorials nationwide include rifles, swords, cannons and battleships, "trends are changing," said Cuesta, who has advocated on behalf of stronger gun laws.
Why am I not surprised the fools are also anti-gun?

Another article, with some good common sense quotes:

Reached at home Thursday in Virginia Beach, Va., Patsy Dietz, Dietz's widow, said she sympathizes with the message that guns and schools shouldn't mix, especially in the community where the Columbine shootings took place.

But to use her husband to forge such a political statement about guns is irresponsible, she said.

"It's a parent's job, including these parents who are protesting, to teach their children the difference between two thugs who murder their classmates and a soldier who died fighting for their freedom," she said. "Danny represents every soldier and sailor who has fallen, and for them to take this stand, well, that's offensive to me."

Patsy Dietz found out about the opposition via an e-mail forwarded by Janice Caulfield, the parent-teacher association president at Centennial Academy of Fine Arts Education.

Caulfield had received the e-mail, which solicited opposition the statue.

"They were barking up the wrong tree," said Caulfield, the daughter of a 24-year Navy man and the cousin of a Navy SEAL who served with Danny Dietz.

Caulfield said she could not speak for the PTA, but in her opinion admiring a local war hero is good for children.

"I'll be proud to take my children there, and I'll be glad to show them a hero who died fighting for them and how we live our lives in freedom," she said.

...

The opposition to a war memorial is unprecedented in Jim Carrier's experience He is a national board member for both the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and the Navy SEAL Warrior Fund, foundations that help the families of those who die in service to the country.

"They are missing the point," Carrier said. "It takes guns to defend our freedoms against terrorists when they are trying to kill you and your children."

But those who side with Cassidy see a different depiction.

"A statue of a soldier holding a child would send a better message," said Calvin Freehling, a Vietnam veteran from Indianola,
Cañon City sculptor Robert Henderson based his clay form of Navy SEAL Danny Dietz on the last photo taken of him. (Courtesy Tracy Harmon)
Neb., who e-mailed The Denver Post. "An automatic weapon doesn't signify protection. It signifies violence. I'm 64 years old now, and I'm tired of violence."

Ann Levy of Denver, who calls herself a "peacenik," would like to see Dietz's sacrifice honored in a different way.

"They should be putting up a peace dove instead," she said. "The question is do we stand for peace or do we stand for war?"
A peace dove? Peace doves don't sacrifice their lives for your freedoms.

At least some sane people live in Colorado.

These people represent a shallow kind of kindergarten thought - unable to distinguish between good and bad outcomes, labeling the means as evil, passing their ignorance on to their children, along with their illogical fear of inanimate objects. Unfortunately, this ignorance is increasing, fostered by leftists.

Crazed Rabbit