Gun reform; Trump indictment; Trump vs. DeSantis; DeSantis overreach; Brightline bridge

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Let’s take meaningful action on gun reform

Mass shootings have become too commonplace. Thoughts and prayers have become the go-to response from politicians. They avoid the root causes of gun violence and meaningful gun reform is put on the shelf.

The AR-15, a semi-automatic rifle, has been used in many recent mass shootings. These weapons were designed for military use and are not suitable for civilian purposes. Their bullets cause maximum damage, often tearing through the body and leaving it in pieces. Civilians do not need to own these types of weapons.

School shootings have become a terrifying reality for students. It is the responsibility of adults to ensure that children are safe. It is often argued that owning a gun is a constitutional right. This argument fails to take into account the fact that the Second Amendment was written more than 200 years ago, when the country was very different from what it is now. The right to bear arms does not mean the right to own weapons that are designed for military use.

Many of the arguments against gun reform come from the National Rifle Association and gun manufacturers. These organizations have convinced many Americans that attempts to regulate guns are an attack on their Second Amendment rights. This is simply not true. Gun reform is about keeping Americans safe and preventing future tragedies. It is not about taking away anyone’s rights.

Action is needed now to address the availability of weapons like the AR-15. We require a license to drive, we wear seatbelts, and children’s playgrounds have safety standards. It is time for guns to be treated with the same level of regulation and safety.  Don’t let the NRA and politicians who receive funding from gun manufacturers scare you into inaction. The safety of our children and communities depends on you taking action now.

Chrisi Thanos, Port St. Lucie

More: MLK Day shooting in Fort Pierce is 30th mass shooting in U.S. so far this year

Trump indictment raises uncomfortable questions

I’m not a Donald Trump lover be any means. His time has come and gone, but this indictment interests me since I spent 55 years as an attorney.

Of course I have not read the complaint, but apparently it is based on the money which was paid to two women so they would not reveal an extramarital affair.

That’s what interests me, since I bet the same thing has been done on a weekly basis throughout the country, yet no other indictments. Strange isn’t it?

More importantly is that if the facts are true, it would appear a much more serious crime has been committed called blackmail or even extortion. Yet this is never mentioned.

Were the women given immunity so this district attorney could get to Trump? Is this selective prosecution of him when others that held high offices in New York did the same thing and were never indicted nor was a grand jury even convened to hear the facts?

Of course right away when the allegations are presented, half the population has already convicted him in the press and in their own minds. I sometimes wonder what ever happened to the basic constitutional protection of innocent until proven guilty.

Edward Marasi, Port St. Lucie

More: Trump’s Mar-a-Lago post-arraignment remarks: Who was there, who wasn’t?

Trump-DeSantis coverage blurs line between reporting and opinion

“The straw that breaks the camel’s back.”

For the younger generations, the meaning of that phrase is, when you are repeatedly told something that is questionably not accurate, and you just can’t take it anymore without a response.

Many news outlets in this country are so far left-leaning, it is sickening. The latest straw was an article I read in your publication April 3, headlined “Disney deals another blow to DeSantis’ ambitions.”

You can’t possibly believe that the oversight district board will allow the last-minute sweetheart deal to last for very long. As big as they are, the members will not overcome the measures that will be taken to override what Disney tried to sneak through.

The article then goes on to highlight: “Will DeSantis’ image take a hit over Disney move? … He is struggling to effectively counter Trump’s attacks.”

Our governor has been a gentleman. He has not stooped to Trump’s level. The Trump organization’s verbal attack is a result of the fear it has of the DeSantis movement.

I miss the days when you read the newspaper and the stories were written by reporters sent out to cover news and report their findings. No bylines. Their efforts were rewarded by being promoted to cover bigger and more important events.

Back then, the editorial page provided a forum whereby an esteemed journalist could cover a subject based on his/her opinion. The person’s name was clearly shown and along with that was a disclaimer that read: “The opinion of this writer is not necessarily that of the newspaper.”

Now, everybody has an opinion, and according to them, it is the only possible scenario.

John Felici, Jensen Beach

More: Did Disney outmaneuver DeSantis? Why is King Charles III involved? Here’s what we know

DeSantis’ ideas about freedom actually shackle Floridians

An eighth-generation Floridian, I watched with a jaundiced eye when Ron DeSantis, backed by former President Donald Trump in the 2018 GOP primary, beat respected Republican public servant Adam Putnam. I suspected it would be bad. I had no idea it would be this bad.

In our small Florida County, two locally elected school board members are now on the governor’s list of 14 statewide being targeted for defeat in 2024. Although these races are nonpartisan, it is ironic both members targeted were registered Republicans, although one has since switched to no party affiliation.

Hopefully, voters here will begin to understand the dangerous golden handcuffs our governor’s curious brand of “freedom” brings, where school board members, teachers and political enemies are silenced, books are hidden and removed, and freedom of speech is an afterthought.

Ask Floridians whether they would prefer a stable property insurance environment to political attacks, plucking immigrants from Texas courtesy of Florida taxpayers, bullying a small college, creating an “Office of Election Crimes and Security” that has sowed confusion and produced little evidence, fostering and defending unconstitutionally vague legislation passed by a Legislature eager to rubber stamp, the march backwards from a 16-week abortion ban to a 6-week abortion ban, the tone-deaf signing into law of a permitless carry bill, the tremendous number of COVID deaths that our state suffered, all simply to prove “conservative” bonafides for a presidential run, and I believe you will have your answer.

If this is DeSantis’ idea of creating a “free” state “where woke goes to die,” it is at a tremendous price. I am an old Florida cracker and I can tell you that this is a cautionary tale, my friends, possibly coming to a nation near you. Read widely, vote wisely.

Peggy Lyon, Vero Beach

DeSantis caved to NRA on no-license gun law

I expect the governor had a good reason for signing a bill behind closed doors which will allow no-license carry for weapons. Backed by the National Rifle Association, what else could he do? So much for transparency.

Mildred Bernier, Vero Beach

Time to spruce up railroad bridge across St. Lucie River

First, I want to say to the Martin County commissioners a big “thank you” for all the new “stuff” going on all over our wonderful community . Roads are being resurfaced and restriped and pot holes repaired, new playground facilities in our biggest parks, public restrooms (usually the last on the list) being refurbished and updated.

All that and more. I’m really impressed. But ( the real reason for this letter) how long must we wait for Brightline or the Florida East Coast Railway to do something about the very old, (90 years, I hear) very rusty, bascule train bridge crossing the St. Lucie waterway at Stuart?

Yes, that one. My wife and I have lived in Jensen Beach for 22 years and have looked at that rusty old bridge each and every time we go over the Roosevelt Bridge. If I were a passenger on the new Brightline train and knew I’d be crossing over it, I’d get off without hesitation.

I’m sure that old bridge has quite a history and has served its purpose faithfully. I see that there is a some major work going on now to fix and update it. The old “girl” could really use some attention.

So, will somebody in authority get a message to whoever’s in charge (FEC Railway) to please include some money to sandblast and paint that really rusty eyesore? It’s so outstandingly ugly. I know I’m not alone on this. Thanks.

Karl Meier, Jensen Beach

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