Lt. Fawkes,

I've been incredibly supportive of the Watch this term. I have disregarded allegations of incompetence in the Watch in the past, as every organization makes the occasional mistake. However, when I was told by a Private that he was ordered to arrest those who bore their weapons openly by yourself, I am concerned.

A Lieutenant of the Watch should know the law to the letter, and so you already know that such is not a crime. I want you to write an apology to Hagen Raines (who was assaulted by your misunderstanding) at the Crone for this confusion -- and send me a copy of the letter.

If you're honorable, you'll go ahead with what I request. Otherwise, my high opinion of the Watch will only diminish.

Until then, I'll notify you when we outlaw bearing arms openly.

- Councilor Aaron J. Russell

Councilor,

With all due respect to your station, no apology letter will be written. There is a law preventing citizens from carrying weapons in the streets, and there is also a law requiring citizens to sheathe their weapons when instructed to by the Watch.

Furthermore, a warrant is being issued for Hagen Raines. He will have his weapons confiscated and destroyed and pay a hefty fine for attacking one of my men.

There reaches a point in a city's conscience where it must grapple with the fact that if you do not allow your guardians to uphold the rules that keep you safe, you cease to be safe not only from your foes but your guardians themselves come to recognize the danger to their safety.

I refer you to the law book first, the law on public nuisance. Carrying a weapon within Sanctuary has historically been regarded as a public nuisance. Even before I joined the Watch, the privates regularly informed citizens not to carry weapons openly through the streets. This is not a new policy.

There is also a law requiring citizens to cooperate with the Watch during investigations. Failure to do so is also a crime. If a Watchman approaches you to investigate why you have a weapon drawn and are creating a public nuisance, you must cooperate with him and failure to do so is a crime.

Secondly, I refer you to the concept of the common law. This is a body of law that while not written is historically held accepted in the minds of our citizens. Some of it is embodied in our charter, some of it is held over from our founding days; but all of it represents laws that are enforced without every truly making it into the books. We have no law for example that prevents citizens from looting the corpses of our dead defenders at the gates; and yet we have long enforced this rule because it is accepted by the people.

The Watch requires the Council's support. I find it unsettling that two Councilors watched and encouraged a private to be beaten by a citizen. Even more disturbing is that a Councilor later encouraged citizens to defy the law and the Watch through the use of a public sending.

The Watch is a group of men who have sworn to give their lives to protect this city. In the last few weeks, two of our members were slain by the Seekers with no investigation forthcoming; Seekers and even citizens openly call for a public arming to attack the Watch; and now some Councilors are attempting to embarrass us while allowing citizens to assault us openly on the streets. Have you stopped to consider what might happen next will not be pleasant for Sanctuary or its continued security?

Respectfully,

Lieutenent Fawkes

Lt. Fawkes,

I'm very disappointed. I will no longer vote for Watch matters until the matter clears up -- whether that be your apology letter or whether that be due to time. (That would be fourteen percent of the legislative voting body, if you're math savvy.)

To clarify, I did not encourage the man to beat up the Watch Private, I encouraged the Watch Private to see that what he was doing did not adhere to the law. The public nuisance law is so vague it can apply to anything, and the Council agrees with me when I say that we want bearing arms openly to be a crime. We are currently working on proper legislation in this area, but until then to prevent more confusion I'm going to ask you refrain from continuing this effort.

Also note that I hold the same opinions you do on the Seekers, but I will see the wrongs right on any organization in Sanctuary, even those I love most.

- Councilor Aaron J. Russell