This might just have been a poorly worded document or a poorly executed plan but the fact that it got hardworking, honest business owners’ dander up and raised serious concerns makes it worthy of review.

Any letter that starts with, “Greetings, your business has been determined to fit the definition of a Secondhand Dealer or Pawn Broker conducting business in Poulsbo” and immediately launches into what “will be required” is going to put people on the defensive. The proposal to have certain businesses record transactions in a collaborative effort to reduce crime in Little Norway and beyond is a fine goal but the way it was offered fell well short of hitting the net.

Of all city entities, the Poulsbo Police Department should realize that, as an authority figure, putting new laws into effect that impact not only the crooks but the upstanding citizens, is a delicate matter. It could have been handled differently.

It should have been handled differently.

Instead, a portion of a small business owners — who are a critical part of the community’s lifeblood — felt as if they were being targeted. Not by thieves but rather those who are charged with the duty of protecting them.

We are very pleased the city immediately recognized the error of its ways and responded graciously to members of the public who support it.

Although the end was OK, the means to get there should have been reviewed before any action was taken on behalf of the city. Of course, hindsight is always 20/20. We just hope the Poulsbo Police Department will take advantage of this perfect vision and apply it to future instances by looking ahead at the potential ramifications of its ideas before charging ahead blindly.