Arming teachers would be a 'major mistake': Letters to the Editor, Nov. 12, 2023

Arm teachers? I give that an F-

It would be a major and possibly a fatal mistake to allow teachers in our schools to be armed.

As a retired teacher, counselor, assistant principal  and principal for 39 years, I would be very concerned over such a policy. School administrators and other school personnel must deal with very emotional situations with students, parents, teachers, other school employees, emotionally unstable people, etc., all the time and to put guns in the hands of these people would be a major mistake. Guns in the hands of the wrong person, at the wrong time, in a heated, emotional situation, is just asking for disaster. I have seen situations where a very upset teacher with a gun at the time could well have used it against a student, or a parent, or a fellow teacher or administrator.

Educators are also busy enough and do not need the extra burden of being a law enforcement officer as well as a teacher.

Vernon L. Loyd, Rockledge

Brightline ramps up noise level

Have any Brevard officials thought about the new Brightline train schedule and the amount of noise pollution created every day at each railroad crossing? There are approximately 30 trains scheduled each day, 15 from Orlando to stations to the south and 15 from Miami to Orlando. Each of these trains is sounding their horn as they approach a railroad crossing.

As a longtime resident of Brevard County, the increase in the amount of noise pollution by the Brightline train horns is very evident to me. Brevard County needs to step up and require a stop in Brevard if we are to endure any more noise pollution.

Rob Carr, Rockledge

Caution: Red flag laws ahead

The history of the mental issues of the Maine shooter, Robert Card, is described in a Nov. 1 story in FLORIDA TODAY, titled "Maine officials warned of shooter." The story relates that reports from the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office in Maine "show deputies with the department documented concerns as long ago as May."

Later, while training with his Army National Guard unit in New York, members of his unit said, Card had been hearing voices and "was taken to a base hospital, then transferred to a psychiatric hospital ... for two weeks' treatment."

No one in Maine applied its yellow flag law nor did anyone apply New York's red flag law. Further, there was no report to the FBI which processes background checks. As a result, Card passed the required check when he purchased the rife used in the shooting.

One must be cautious about applying flag laws. An example of what not to do is described in a Nov. 5, 2018, CBS News Baltimore report titled "Maryland's 'Red Flag' Law Turns Deadly: Officer Kills Man Who Refused To Turn In Gun." It describes a SWAT team which at 5:17 a.m. knocked on the door of the man being served. In the resulting confrontation the man was killed.

President Biden reacted to the Maine shooting by demanding a number of actions that would not have prevented it, including universal background checks and safe gun storage. He should focus on fixing the aforementioned problems.

James Beasom, Melbourne Village

More: Parrish Medical Center isn't broken: Don't 'fix" it: Letters to the Editor, Nov. 5, 2023

What's driving EV concern?

Regarding a recent letter writer's concerns about electric vehicles, apparently Mr. Taylor is more concerned about subsidies to the EV industry than he is about decades of subsidies to the oil companies which made $200 billion in 2022.

Wonderful, eh?

Mark Nicholas, Rockledge

Here's why I drive a Tesla

I drive a Tesla.  No, we are not rich. We saved up for it and took advantage of the government subsidy.

For all that is being said about EV cars, we have not put gas in our car for four years, and we have not had an oil change or tune-up. Yes, we still rotate the tires and do basic maintenance. We drive an EV because 1) affordability; 2) better for the environment; and 3) safety. We opted to spend a bit more and got driver assist. We are both in our 70s and this little bit of help really helps a lot. Most cars now are adopting similar safety measures. No, it doesn’t take over for us although it will brake if necessary and not allow us to change lanes if it is unsafe.

For all that is being said about EVs, they are our future. You choose to be a troglodyte or you can immerse yourself in educating yourself by learning about the advantages of EV vs. internal combustion. I choose advancement and innovation.

Laura Petruska, Melbourne

Unwanted wars on the horizon?

The passive nature of the Biden administration has caused opportune aggression from our archenemies. We are being coerced into potential unwanted wars with Russia, Iran and all their allies. It's a matter of time until those wars break out, and let's hope China isn't inspired into opportune aggression at that time to attack Taiwan.

Sleep well, all you unconcerned Biden devotees. I certainly won't.

Melvin Deere, Melbourne

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Here's why I drive a Tesla: Letters to the Editor, Nov. 12, 2023