New immigration laws not needed; enforce the old ones: Letters to the Editor, Feb. 4, 2024

Say no to less-restrictive gun laws

As reported in FLORIDA TODAY, Palm Bay has had two major shooting incidents in less than two weeks with seven deaths and serious injuries to law enforcement officers.

Meanwhile, the Florida House is currently in session and moving forward with less-restrictive firearm bills.

Reps. Tyler Sirois (R-Merritt Island) and Randy Fine (R-Palm Bay) are sponsors of Florida House Bill 1223, which would lower the age to purchase a firearm from 21 to 18. Another bill, HB 17, seeks to eliminate the mandatory waiting period for the purchase of a firearm.

Please contact your representative and voice your concern for a safer Brevard.

Kathy Ojeda, Merritt Island

Students must 'reclaim their role'

In Brevard County, an alarming trend of academic censorship and a lack of student representation has surfaced. As educational policies shape the landscape, students' voices are sidelined by external organizations, notably Moms for Liberty. Recent crucial decisions have excluded students' input, highlighting the urgent need for them to reclaimtheir role.

I am a West Shore Jr./Sr. senior as well as an education and mental health activist. I am standing up for my education and mobilizing others to do so as well. Responding to this challenge, a rally is set for 4:30 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Brevard school board chambers. This initiative aims to give students a platform to express concerns, unite, and actively participate in discussions on educational policies. The objective is clear: Students must play a central role in shaping their academic journey.

The rally signifies a critical moment for Brevard students to mobilize and demand a rightful seat at the decision-making table and be recognized as essential stakeholders. It's an opportunity for them to articulate challenges, aspirations, and visions for an inclusive educational system.

This movement isn't a challenge to external organizations but a call for students to actively shape their educational future. Through collective action, students can break the silence, ensuring their voices are not just heard but considered in decisions impacting their lives. Let the rally symbolize empowerment — a stride toward creating aneducational environment that values students' indispensable input. The resounding call is clear: Students must actively contribute to shaping their educational narrative.

Anjani Sharma is a senior at West Shore Jr./Sr. High School.

Enforce current immigration laws

Mr. Dorman's Jan. 28 letter, "We Lose With Trump," is a distraction from the terrible Senate's proposed border immigration bill. He uses his and others' "Trump Derangement Syndrome" to light up the low-information tribe and have them focus more on President Trump rather than solving the invasion of our country.

This bill is an election year deception by Democrats to make people think something will be done to solve this crisis.  Biden has done nothing the past three years to stem the invasion but much to promote it. The president could shut down the border immediately if he chose to do so.

The country does not need another bill. This administration needs only to enforce the current immigration laws. The "asylum" excuse to let millions invade is a bastardization of asylum laws.

This bill is not about President Trump's stance on it. It is about the current president's dereliction of duty by not enforcing existing law and therefore endangering our national security and sovereignty.

In my opinion, the vast majority of American citizens understand this "immigration" bill is a scheme and a farce. Its purpose is to assist Biden's attempt to gain some traction for reelection. Even if this terrible bill passed, why should Biden enforce any (if there are any) valuable aspects in it when he will not enforce current laws?

No new laws are needed. Enforce current immigration laws.

John Bell, Merritt Island

More: 'We are not the 'Education State,' Governor: Letters to the Editor, Jan. 21, 2024

The immigration dilemma

Why not open the borders and allow people to enter our country at will? The question of illegal immigration has become a major concern of citizens of this country as exposed by polling and news organizations.

The simple answer: Even in a country as prosperous as our own, there is a limit to what the economy can sustain. We cannot expect and require our country and taxpayers to shoulder the financial burden of supporting and sustaining everyone and every group that wants to relocate to the USA. No country could reasonably support the entire world's population. By opening borders and setting no limits, that is what we’re expecting our country to do.

At some point all our resources will be exhausted. And, then, what must we do? Would it not be more sensible for all political groups to come together, stop the ridiculous fighting, and decide together to impose reasonable and humane restrictions while we come up with a way to include and serve as many immigrants as possible without bringing in criminals or others who are here only to do harm?

An orderly system of immigration can most assuredly provide more positive and helpful services, for immigrants and citizens alike, than a barely manageable and ungovernable open border. The political fighting and infighting does not work.

We must come together and search out a solution that does. We have no other reasonable choice unless our true goal is to destroy our country and a good part of our world as well.

Sylvia Sharpe, Doug Sharpe and Paula Estridge, Melbourne, are members of the Brevard Republican Executive Committee.

Racism's sad legacy

As I grew up in New York City during the 1930s and '40s we had a few Black kids in our classes but we thought nothing of it, not realizing what was going on down south.

All these years later, I'm reading a book titled "Blood Done Sign My Name," written by Timothy B. Tyson, the white son of a white preacher in North Carolina.

He brings up quotes from Martin Luther King Jr.'s famed "Letter from Birmingham Jail," which I had never read before. One of the most impressive to me was a section where King talks about his 6-year-old daughter asking to go to an amusement park which was being advertised on TV. His story hit me right in the gut. Can you imagine, Gov. DeSantis, having to tell one of your three beautiful children that they can't go to an event because their skin color is below standard? Try to put yourself in their place if your children had to ask you a question like that. Does that mean that all Scandinavians, for example, are superior to everyone else?

Come on, people, let's get over this ridiculous idea. We all have our faults and we all have our good qualities. Let's make an effort to get over this. I don't really think any one of us is enjoying this continual battle.

Ruth Ceike Meier, Melbourne

Kind words can mean a lot

We are all most fortunate in this country because we have the finest health care system in the world. We have spent four months annually in Titusville, Florida, for 20-plus years. In 2011, I needed a valve replacement and if it wasn't for the fast actions of local doctors, both here and in Orlando, I probably would not be alive today.

When you visit your doctor or medical practitioner, try to remember that they are parents and in some cases grandparents. After a day listening to our ailments and trying to solve our health issues, they go home to their families with their issues. Maybe when you leave their office, it would be nice to say "Thank you for taking such good care of me."

While you are at it, if you see a first responder or a veteran, take a moment to thank them for their service.

A small thank you can go a long way.

Bill Jilek, Titusville

Disney, DeSantis and our dollars

The Florida Republicans are shouting from the rooftops that Joe Biden is responsible for Florida inflation. Meanwhile, Florida taxpayers are picking up the bill for DeSantis's culture war lawsuits with Disney, to the tune of millions of dollars.

Geraldine Hoyt, Melbourne

More: Is anyone listening to residents about building projects? Letters to the Editor, Jan. 28, 2024

Is this really freedom?

Are we really the “Freedom State,” as Gov. DeSantis likes to brag?

Are we really listening to parents when it comes to sex education, banning books and now attempting to restrict social media for kids? How does freedom equate if you are Black and the numbers of incarceration and in-school suspension keep going higher and higher? Where is this so-called freedom? I just see all these as restrictions, not freedoms.

Why has the state allowed parents to decide what our kids should learn in school? Parents, are you prepared to talk to your child about sexuality? They have it whether you like it or not, so you might as well have the school educate your kid on the safety factors. And are you actually reading the books that your kid is no longer allowed access to

And don’t even get me started on the hazing of a young Black football player at a local high school. Are these freedoms? Not in my book. Readers out there, start really reading for content and figure out what it is you want. Do you want freedom or restriction? Because right now you have the latter.

Laura Petruska, Melbourne

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Tell Rreps: Don't loosen gun laws | Letters to the Editor, Feb. 4, 2024