Letters: Inaction by lawmakers not an option to curb gun violence

The last several weeks have been extremely difficult for communities and families around the country. First, 10 people were killed in Buffalo, then 19 children and two teachers were murdered in Uvalde. After that, four people were killed in Tulsa, one in Oklahoma City, three in Philadelphia and two in Alabama.

When is it going to be enough? Columbine, Sandy Hook, Pulse, Parkland, Las Vegas and Virginia Tech — none of these were enough. Will it be Buffalo? Uvalde? Is Jacksonville next?

Our nation is experiencing a deadly gun violence crisis that innocent people are paying for with their lives. Here in Florida, an average of 2,849 people die by guns each year. Plus, Black children and teens are three times more likely than their white peers to die from guns.

Gun violence costs Florida $20.2 billion each year, of which $855 million is paid by taxpayers.

The U.S Congress is discussing gun safety laws. We must make sure they pass these laws because we don’t have to live like this and we don’t have to die like this.

Inaction is not an option. Contact your local and state representatives to ask for their support. Together, we can put an end to gun violence.

Angela Carrero Ibaseta, leader of Students Demand Action of Jacksonville and community outreach state leader, Students Demand Action of Florida

Florida’s unsound public health policy

The Florida Surgeon General, Joseph Ladapo, has once again politicized the health of Floridians; this time, it's that of our children.

In the past few weeks, we have been informed that the state health department had underreported the number of COVID cases and deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. Then we learned that Florida has one of the highest COVID death rates in the nation.

Against this backdrop, Ladapo continues to stand alone among the nation’s public health leaders in his stance that vaccines are ineffective and unsafe in adults, as well as children. Florida will not pre-order its share of pediatric COVID vaccines, because apparently, he thinks it makes sense to force parents and pediatricians to scramble. There will be some resources at commercial pharmacies and county health departments but this is the antithesis of sound public health policy.

The burden of this decision will fall on children whose parents are poor, medically unsophisticated or physically disadvantaged. Hopefully, the people of Florida are sufficiently resourceful to cope, despite this egregious failure of leadership.

Stephen S. Entman, MD, Jacksonville and professor emeritus, Vanderbilt University Medical School

Research required for all sheriff’s candidates

I do not personally know T.K. Waters, so I will research his record; but the fact that his political endorsements tout his ability to continue the work of Sheriff Mike Williams and former Sheriff (now U.S. Representative) John Rutherford makes me quite wary.

The position of sheriff seems to be used as a career ladder, rather than an office to protect the safety of Jacksonville citizens. It will not be a surprise if Williams runs for Congress in his new county. Rep. Rutherford has recently been put under investigation by the House Ethics Committee, due to late reporting of stock transactions valued between $652,000 and $3.5 million, as reported in The Hill. It seems that being a sheriff and moving on to Congress is a lucrative career choice.

I urge voters to research all the other candidates, such as Lakesha Burton. Her heart appears to be with the Jacksonville neighborhoods — not using the office of sheriff as a stepping stone to the next political appointment.

Cyd Reider, Jacksonville

It doesn’t take a committee

For many years, Jacksonville had the reputation as a city that smelled bad because of the industrial plants on the Northside. Fortunately, that particular odor has been eliminated. Unfortunately, there is a new smell in the area — it is the city council voting to keep the Confederate monuments in place.

Cities all over the South, even those with much more of a southern tradition have removed their monuments. Yet Jacksonville seems to think this is 1922 instead of 2022. As an individual who has lived in North Florida all my life, I’m truly embarrassed. During my years in law practice, when someone wanted to appoint a committee to study an issue, you knew nothing would be done. Courage, foresight and doing the right thing (by removing the monuments) does not require a committee.

Thank you, Matt Carlucci, for attempting to do the right thing. Hopefully you’ll be able to convince the other council members to join the 21st century.

David B. Lee, Jr., Ponte Vedra

Diesel prices and inflation

One issue that affects the rate of inflation is diesel prices.

Think of all the deliveries from ports and American businesses where diesel fuel is used. Companies ship a multitude of items by truck, train and more; they are all being greatly affected by this issue. These costs are passed on to the customers in most cases. While major trucking companies might be in fixed contracts with some companies, privately owned trucks are either operating at a loss or are parked due to out-of-control fuel costs.

The government should already be aware of this problem. All other programs are supporting other types of businesses; let’s hope they are addressing this issue.

Let’s quit looking at past problems and solve existing issues. The rear-view mirror approach is not acceptable to meet the country’s needs.

John Shelley, retired sales rep, Fleming Island

Brown’s actions are shameless

It is hard to believe Corrine Brown is going to run for Congress again, after being found guilty by a jury on 18 federal charges. While in prison she gets released early because of COVID, and then gets a very questionable plea deal from the district attorney’s office. So now she can plead guilty to one count of tax fraud and that allows her to retain her retirement. I thought that justice was supposed to be blind, but this whole scenario smells like a three-day old fish.

Now she has the audacity to run for Congress again. Does she really think that the people are dumb enough to vote for her after what she did? If she were to win and return to Congress then it would answer many questions about the intelligence of the voters.

Richard Pierce, Jacksonville

‘No’ still means ‘no’

Everyone should be proud that Staff Sgt. Kacie Suchanek spoke out about her rape and the treatment she has received from the state attorney’s office, as well as the military. The new Secretary of the Army, Christine Wormuth, was recently interviewed on “CBS Evening News,” stating that sexual assault in the military would be taken more seriously by every leader. Really?

As reported on June 17, Staff Sgt. Suchanek has been waiting nine months while the powers that be seem to be trying to sweep this under the rug. After a rape exam was done and bruises documented, prosecutors apparently said the evidence wasn’t enough. Then, the military changed her assignment; she’s being the one removed, not him.

When will it be emphasized enough — or more severely prosecuted — so that people understand: “No” means “no!”

Linda L. Vacca, Jacksonville

Weak coverage of city’s birthday

I was very disappointed in the coverage from the news media and the city, especially our Mayor Lenny Curry, for Jacksonville's bicentennial earlier this month. It was hosted by the Jacksonville Historical Society, who did a wonderful job setting things up downtown, but publicity was scarce for a 200-year celebration. Really, it was another sad mark for our city.

The mayor never uttered a word or issued a proclamation and media coverage seemed minimal. Yet choruses sang, while drumlines and bands played in the downtown plazas. Farah & Farah hosted several blocks of booths with lots of activities for kids, as well as food trucks.

It was a great day downtown; I wish more people had known about and supported it.

Lina Ingraham, Jacksonville

Postal customers deliver for the hungry

The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) held its annual nationwide "Stamp Out Hunger " food drive last month. Thanks to the donations of our generous postal customers, we were able to collect 382,000 pounds of food. All food collected was distributed to local food pantries and will be provided to those in our area who are in need.

This is the first year we were able to do this drive since 2019 due to the COVID restrictions. We look forward to holding our food drive again on the second Saturday in May each year. Thank you all again for your support.

Bob Henning, district coordinator, NALC Branch 53, Jacksonville

Who cares where elected officials live?

A June 11 letter writer commented that Sheriff Mike Williams was not "legally" in office for the year he did not live in Duval County. This statement is laughable.

Did Williams break some kind of silly rule stating that the sheriff must live in the county? It appears so, but that didn't stop him from doing his job whatsoever.

For the record, many City of Jacksonville employees (including those in high-ranking positions) live outside the city limits. The location of one’s residence location has nothing to do with their job performance.

John Reinheimer, Fleming Island

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Letters: Inaction by lawmakers not an option to curb gun violence