We must address our gun violence problem

Our region has a gun violence problem that threatens to undo all progress we’ve made on equity and economic development.

Public safety is a just expectation from every person. Our day-to-day existence is shaken to its core without the feeling of safety. Tragically, for many, this means the fear of losing a child, spouse or parent to violence that can trigger an endless cycle of emotional trauma and anxiety. It takes one instance of gun violence to unravel the survival of an entire family that has reverberations for generations of children.

That is entirely unacceptable. Every person deserves to grow up and live in a community without the fear of violence and subsequent trauma. We must recognize the historical disinvestment in communities of color and low-income neighborhoods. We must respond with investments to support after-school programs, job training, educational opportunities, homeownership programs and more. We must simultaneously recognize and enforce the importance of police officers as providers of an essential public service rooted in the uncompromising responsibility to be fair in their duties.

An all-or-nothing approach to a complex public policy concern can become a crisis, and it will lead to more precious lives lost to senseless and tragic acts of gun violence.

Bhavini Patel

Edgewood

The writer is an Edgewood Council member.

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Giving up guns won’t end carnage

Regarding “‘Don’t be numb to this’: Battling despair over gun deaths” (Jan. 29, TribLIVE): As a lifelong hunting and firearm enthusiast, I would gladly give up my modern firearms if it would end the active shooter carnage we are now experiencing. But it won’t because the bad guys who have no regard for the law will still be armed, and I cannot rely on the government to protect me and my community from them.

Our third president, Thomas Jefferson, summed it up when he stated, “laws that forbid the carrying of arms … disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes.” A quotation for the ages! The way it is.

Giles H. Guisbert

North Huntingdon

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With Ukraine aid, are we headed for WWIII?

As the U.S. continues to funnel tens of billions of taxpayer dollars and military aid to Ukraine, with what seems like zero accountability, ask this simple question: If Country A supplies Country B with missiles to bomb Country C, does Country C have the moral right to bomb Country A? I believe they do, and eventually will, if a peaceful solution is not found soon

Haven’t we, as a country, lost enough of our sons and daughters’ lives, taxpayer money and military hardware over the last 60-plus years? For what? Have we learned nothing? Do we want an all-out conflict (which will go nuclear) with Russia?

Is there anyone in D.C. who will speak out against this insane escalation, demand a cease-fire and peace talks? Or will we continue to march blindly into World War III?

The clock is ticking.

Robert Anderson

Freeport

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Pope’s call on homosexuality a welcome step forward

There are currently over 65 countries throughout the world in which homosexual relations are classified as a criminal offense; indeed, in several countries, a person can be executed for being gay. Pope Francis’ historic call for the global decriminalization of homosexuality is a historic step forward for LGBTQ individuals, their families, and all who love and support them.

Hopefully, the pope’s statement will help to reduce the ongoing discrimination, hatred and violence perpetuated against our LGBTQ sisters and brothers. As Christians, we are called to constantly advocate for life, respect the dignity of all human beings, and affirm the belief that every individual has been created in the image and likeness of God.

True to these precepts, Pope Francis reminds us that “We are all children of God and God loves us as we are.”

Keith G. Kondrich

Swisshelm Park

The writer is a deacon in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh.

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Ideas to continue Bushy Run reenactments

Here’s some free advice for the Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society: Don’t cancel the battlefield reenactment (“Pa. agency explains why it enacted new ‘no force-on-force rule’ for Bushy Run, other sites,” Feb. 6, TribLIVE). Replace the Native American side of the battle with sound effects.

There are many local universities and schools that offer classes in filmmaking and audiovisual engineering/recording. Recording war calls and sounds of musket fire and coordinating their playback during the reenactment would be an excellent project and a wonderful recruiting tool for any local entity lucky enough to land such a project. Many of the needed sound effects can probably be found on the internet for little or no cost. And perhaps this could lead to another project: creating an online library of war calls specific to the tribes involved in this battle.

I hope the unfortunate rule by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission that caused the cancellation will be reversed. In the meantime, perhaps it will spark some imaginative thinking that leads to new ways of learning about and documenting the past as well as creating a more immersive battlefield experience.

Ed Pencoske

Trafford

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Bushy Run needs to continue its battles

The new woke policy on force-on-force reenactments that the National Park Service adopted, and this blue state liked, is being used to censor the history of Bushy Run Battlefield (“Pa. agency explains why it enacted no force-on-force rule for Bushy Run, other sites,” Feb. 6, TribLIVE). They claim it is disrespectful to members of the battle casualties’ family lines.

We took a French exchange student to see the reenactment years ago. I think by seeing it in action rather than just reading about it, he could get a better understanding of it. The battlefield will erode without care covered by this historical reenactment.

This woke policy should be applied on an individual basis rather than in a blanket manner. Bushy Run could give an advanced warning like viewers see on TV, saying some of what people see may be disturbing.

Edward Biskup

Penn Township, Westmoreland County

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We need someone like Trump to speak the truth

A recent letter-writer described an independent as “a liberal embarrassed by his or her party’s policies” (“Trump, like Reagan, was a great president,” Jan. 23, TribLIVE). I have been an independent for years, but I am not a liberal! I changed because, to my shock, there are a few good people in the Democratic Party. I repeat, “a few” good people.

I do not agree with the Republican Party in its lack of action in some cases, but I am not ashamed of the party. Obviously, a Democrat wanting to play with the minds of the opposite party … Democrats usually spread hate and false opinions on the subject of the day.

My favorite subject, former President Trump, accomplished more in his four years than the last four presidents combined, in my opinion. I appreciate what Trump accomplished as being “a man” and speaking out and making remarks that most politicians were thinking, but were too chicken to say. People want the truth, not the usual lies that politicians spread.

More than ever, this country needs someone like Trump to speak the truth and get things organized. President Biden is laughable.

Archie Atkinson

Lower Burrell

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