Rep. Goike backs guns, except at his Armada Fair

Warning sign at fair entrance

This year’s annual Armada Fair came off without a hitch – apparently no disturbances, no fights, no violence.

I mention this because the president of the fair’s board of directors, state Rep. Ken Goike, a Ray Township Republican and a fixture in the community, apparently agreed to maintain previous rules that no guns or knives were allowed within the fairgrounds.

Goike election booth at fair

In his latest run for state House, it seems that Goike enjoyed the support of the Macomb County Farm Bureau as well as the National Rifle Association, Michigan Gun Owners, Michigan Open Carry and several other conservative groups.

Goike gives a shooting lesson

No doubt, Goike supports “open carry” and “concealed carry” rights for pistol owners. But he obviously sought a peaceful family fair and ignored the idea that legally armed "patriots" would ultimately keep peace at the fairgrounds.