Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to the media Saturday after she and the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention met with families whose loved ones were killed in the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.
State agencies should not promote firearms
I am an 11th grader. Gun violence is the leading cause of death in Arizona among teens my age. I grew up training for active shooter events at school. My neighborhood grocery store is the Safeway, where Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and 18 others were shot in 2011. I go there all the time. People still leave flowers and stuffed animals by the memorial near the entrance.
Recently, the Arizona Game and Fish Department held a free, two-day expo at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix that targeted families and provided opportunities to try out firearms and purchase the latest equipment and products.
Why is this OK? Why is the State of Arizona involved in promoting firearms? Shouldn’t the NRA or gun dealers organize an event of this type — not Arizona?
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Tae Esperanza Cooper
Northwest side
Republicans love a good heist
The recent attempt by House Republicans to rob Social Security of $1.5 trillion and hike the retirement age represents their contempt for hard-working people. Although the government has long promised these benefits as a steadfast safety net for a lifetime of contributions, Republicans have manipulated the narrative to advance their agenda.
“Social Security is a lifeline for older adults. For many, it’s their main source of income,” said U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). The brazen actions of Republicans, moving in lockstep to threaten our financial stability, risk pushing many into homelessness — a move that amounts to nothing short of theft. This issue transcends policy. It is a mugging masked as fiscal prudence.
In November, our vote will determine the future. Elect leaders who will safeguard our lives and honor commitments. Choose those who are committed to serving the public, rather than kowtowing to the wealthy. Vote like your life depends on it. Vote blue.
Kim Miklofsky Bayne
Foothills
Apology to future generations
I am 85 and feel compelled to apologize to future generations for the damage that my and subsequent generations have done. We have, collectively, through greed and ignorance, severely compromised the future world environment, diminished the prestige of America and initiated a decline in the quality of life for my and your grandkids and great-grandkids. I’m sorry. Perhaps the present generation in power will work to remediate what we have done. I hope so.
Dennis Winsten
Northeast side
Enjoy making something
Re: the March 24 article “Helping teens soar.”
What a breath of fresh air it was to read your article! It made me think of my high school years, during which I could choose to take shop classes such as metal working and auto repair in addition to my academic classes. Shop classes require a melding of physical and mental skills that develop mental pathways different from book learning. Most teenagers, as well as many adults today, have none of these skills. Try a hands-on hobby and enjoy making something!
Douglas Granrath
Foothills
Educator calls for ban on flavored vapes
As a former educator, I saw the progress that was made from programs like D.A.R.E. that taught students to say ‘no’ to drugs and alcohol. Unfortunately, that progress is being undermined by the proliferation of flavored tobacco vapes.
These vape products specifically target young people with candy-like flavors and shiny packaging. Despite being illegal, they’re still flooding the market, and their numbers keep increasing. Now, there are more than 9,000 different vapes on the market, according to a recent FDA story on the issue.
The FDA has the authority to crack down on these products and ban their sale, and the FDA needs to follow through on that authority.
Leaders like Attorney General Mayes have already said that more needs to be done to crack down on flavored vapes. I encourage other elected leaders like Senator Sinema, Senator Kelly, and Congressman Gallego to urge the FDA to do its job and crack down on these illegal flavored vape products.
Susan Youngblood
Foothills
Re: Bidenflation
Re: the March 25 letter “Bidenflation.”
The letter writer blames the rise in prices of gasoline and eggs on President Biden, which is disingenuous at best and deceitful at worst. Perhaps Fox News has not reported on the bird flu epidemic two years ago that killed 82 million chickens nationwide, most of them laying hens. A smaller epidemic recurred in late 2023.
And perhaps the letter writer is not aware that six months ago, the Houthis began attacking ships in the Red Sea, disrupting the sale and delivery of Middle Eastern oil. American gasoline companies immediately raised prices, despite the fact that the vast majority of our oil supply was not affected by the attacks. I doubt President Biden initiated either the flu epidemic or the Houthi attacks.
Bruce Hilpert
North side
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