Upset over recent prop gun incident is now settled

I wish to thank my esteemed colleague, SOMOS (Society of the Muse of the Southwest of Taos) Poetry Month Curator Ariana Kramer, for her courteous and thoughtful public letter (published in the April 12 Taos News) of explanation and regret concerning the unfortunate propgun-display by an actor at the April 1 SOMOS Fools for Poetry Event.

I see from Ariana’s sincere words that SOMOS itself did not approve or condone that actor’s foolishly impulsive and unrehearsed risky behavior with his propgun. I also understand from Ariana’s letter and from a Facebook message to me from the actor himself that the actor has been adequately chastised and re-directed in this matter, and has apologized for his thoughtless, errant behavior, which will not be repeated.

As a Gold Star father of a decorated Army Special Forces/Ranger hero who was KIA by small arms enemy-infiltrator fire in Afghanistan in 2013, and also as a past victim myself of criminal gun violence (a robbery), I may perhaps be hypersensitized to even pantomimed displays of weaponry, prop or not. Yet, as Ariana Kramer correctly states, “this incident raises important questions for all of us to consider.”

I consider the matter now settled and I understand that SOMOS (of which I am a member) will continue to move forward responsibly in its unique and admirable work in the public literary arts arena. I intend to participate in and support that good work to my utmost ability. Que Viva SOMOS!

BILL NEVINS Angel Fire