These guys have somehow gotten tips that the thugs and commies are coming into Coeur d'Alene from Spokane 35 miles to the west.
...continue the important parts of the excerpt a bit beyond 300 words...
Earlier, in the WinCo parking lot, a group of about 40 men and women, some carrying semi-automatic weapons and handguns, stood watch due to what they said were threats of left-wing militant groups coming to start riots at the store.
“We came here as a show of force and as a deterrent to prevent that from happening,” said Trevor Treller, who had an AR-15 and a Glock 19 handgun. “Nobody here wants a confrontation and everyone here is wiling to engage in one if it ever should it come to that, or need to be. But nobody wants it and everyone prays it will never happen.”
Treller said they had been there for a few hours and nothing much had happened, expect some people “clad head to toe in black” drove by and shouted obscenities at them. “They left. It’s quite possible they left because we’re here,” he said.
Like Carson, Treller said he had heard reports, verified by people in positions who would know, that people with Antifa were being bussed in “for the purposes of causing trouble and rioting.” He noted that Spokane, where there were riots and looting late Sunday, is only 35 miles away. “It’s not inconceivable that some very foolhardy, idiotic people in Spokane who are of a mind to commit violence would think they could get away with trying it here,” Treller said. “We’re here to tell them different.”
...a man who said his name was Rescue said he was there to make sure “everybody has a chance to speak their mind but not get out of control.” Rescue carried an AR-15 and two .40-caliber handguns. He said he and his counterparts were prepared if trouble came to Coeur d’Alene. “We have people all over town. The rumors are, they’re going to be in numerous places and they had a scout in here earlier counting our numbers and reporting to somebody.”
Brett Surplus of Coeur d’Alene, a former police officer, said he was there to defend people’s businesses and protect people’s right to free speech. He said a show of force by armed citizens may prevent problems. “We sit back long enough and see America not help their blue line because of the fear factor or they’re not armed,” he said. “This is where the end of the line stops in this state.”
“I want to protect our way of life,” he said.
Stand tall, Coeur d’Alene...
Damn, you guys do America proud.
Proud to call you my Countrymen.
Now I know why people like moving to Idaho regardless of the weather. Just like Tenessee.