Our View: Hi-Line darts and laurels, June 18, 2014

It’s Fair Week, and everyone is in a good mood, so let’s stick to laurels.

Laurel — The Montana Supreme Court has ruled what we thought was obvious. If you want to claim that you shot somebody in self-defense, you have to actually claim it. Prosecutors have to prove that you are guilty of the crime, and the defense has the right to claim self-defense. But when defendants do that, the state’s high court ruled, the defendants have to testify and waive their right to involve the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The ruling sounds fair and legitimate.

Laurel — Havre Mayor Tim Solomon, Hill County Commissioner Mark Peterson, Sheriff’s deputy James Dahl and Havre Police Sgt. Jason Barkus are good sports. They took part in the annual Kiss the Pig contest. The people with the most votes were to kiss the pig, but library officials decided that it was too close to call, and told all the candidates to kiss the pig. They agreed, and good-naturedly puckered up and did their chore.

Laurel — The Great Northern Fair has been a staple of life in Hill County for 102 years. It continues this week. As always, it is a great place for family entertainment. It has resisted the temptation to follow in the footsteps in other parts of the country by resorting to events such as peep shows to attract visitors. And it has resisted the effort to charge people to enter the fair. It costs as much to get into the fair today as it did in 1912 — nothing. Congrats to the fair board. Some of the most passionate and emotional debates in the public sphere take place at fair board meetings. That’s because people are passionate and emotional about this annual event. Thanks to all who take part in putting on the fair.