Letters from readers: Don't stifle peaceful assembly Letters from readers Don't stifle peaceful assembly In the heat of hastily contrived inspiration, also known as knee-jerk reaction, state leadership intends to ramp up and apply the heavy hand of punishment as a first response. It would seem to be an obvious deterrent but any legislation that assumes guilt by tenuous association is flawed. The proposed anti-riot bill does nothing to protect a citizen’s right to peacefully assemble when a few bad actors can throw rocks, start fires, assault first responders or loot businesses and disappear into the night while effectively transferring their personal guilt to all of the original PEACEFUL folks airing their grievances in a proper manner.