Editor,

When my daughter was just a child, we visited several Washington D.C. landmarks, including the U.S. Capitol. I tried my best to answer her seventh-grade questions as we toured Statuary Hall, the Senate and House chambers, and the Rotunda. As a proud American, my daughter’s “intent” was to learn about the history of our country and how our government worked.

Ashli Babbitt’s intent on January 6th, 2021 was to break the law. As a proud member of a violent mob attempting to obstruct an official proceeding, she was shot and killed by Capitol Police while illegally forcing entry into a secure area of a federal facility — just like I would if I crashed the gate at NAS Whidbey Island. Babbitt wasn’t a revolutionist or a patriot. She was a criminal.

Regardless of political ideology or TV news channel preferences, those are the facts. There is no deep-state “collusion” or “mainstream media censorship.” All I had to do is watch the video and see it for myself. Because Ashli Babbitt was someone’s daughter, and as a father myself, it makes me sad that she was killed. But her motive, intent and actions that day are undisputed. What else do I need to know, Fred?

Chris S. Geiger

Coupeville