The year has only begun, but I thought it might be fun to nominate each month our candidate for the "Idiot Congressman Award." My nomination this month is for Washington's own Rep. Norm Dicks, who claimed the murder of park ranger Margaret Anderson could have been prevented if only there had been a sign posted at the entrance to Mount Rainier National Park saying "No firearms allowed." Had such a sign been there, Benjamin Colton Barnes, who was fleeing Skyway for the shooting of four people there, would have obviously either left his weapons outside the park in obedience to the law or turned around and not entered so as to not violate it. After all, why would a law-abiding citizen like crazed shooter Benjamin Colton Barnes ignore such a sign?

Does Dicks now plan to sponsor legislation requiring "No Bank Robbers Allowed" signs to be posted in all FDIC insured institutions, making it then impossible for them to be robbed?

I suggest the mental help that Benjamin Colton Barnes failed to receive be offered instead to Rep. Norm Dicks, who so desperately needs it.

CLARK WILKINS, Kennewick