Letters: Local mom to Florida lawmakers — don’t reopen ‘Charleston Loophole’

Florida’s legislative session begins Tuesday and some Republican lawmakers are aiming to roll back our state’s gun laws once again, through House Bill 17 and Senate Bill 1124.

If passed, this legislation will eliminate waiting periods and reopen the deadly Charleston Loophole in Florida, allowing gun sales to proceed even if a background check hasn’t been completed within three business days. The loophole is so named because it is how the shooter at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C. — where nine innocent lives were stolen in 2015 — was able to purchase his weapon.

In response to the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Florida lawmakers closed this loophole with bipartisan support in 2018. Reopening it will risk public safety and potentially put firearms in the hands of individuals who pose a threat.

Background checks are effective at preventing firearms from falling into the wrong hands, and they are overwhelmingly supported by most Americans. Background checks are not burdensome; 98% are completed within minutes. However, criminal background checks that take longer than three business days to complete are four times more likely to be denied.

Dismantling laws that make our state safer is a huge step backward.

In an average year, nearly 3,000 Floridians die by guns, and 62% of those deaths are suicides. Waiting periods not only help ensure a criminal check is completed before proceeding with a sale, but they also can serve as a cooling-off period for individuals in crisis looking to make an impulsive decision.

Preserving and enhancing responsible gun laws should not be a partisan issue. Gun violence is a public health crisis, and I urge lawmakers to work together across party lines to help save lives this session.

Katie Hathaway, Neptune Beach

Removing monuments won’t help anyone

This is a response to the many letters and articles published by the Times-Union on the Confederate monument debate and now the recent action of Mayor Donna Deegan, espousing only one side of this issue. There are many who support an opposing view who (for whatever reason) do not opine or are not published. So I feel the need to speak for them.

With a heavy heart, I witnessed the distressing movement to tear down an historical monument erected to honor the sacrifices of the women of the Confederacy. Our city mayor, in the quiet hours of the morning, turned her back on the Southern people by unilaterally ordering it to be dismantled.

This memorial, commemorating the sacrifices of wives, mothers and daughters during the Civil War, stands as a testament to their resilience and fortitude during a tumultuous time in our history.

While some members of the public may view this tribute as a symbol of white supremacy, racism or treason, it's crucial to acknowledge its intended purpose — to honor the struggles and resilience of Southern families torn apart by a tragic conflict. Viewing it solely through the lens of hate or labeling it as a symbol of slavery disregards the genuine intent of acknowledging the hardships faced by countless women during a painful period.

Striking this monument will not encourage unity, but instead will only promote division. I find it extremely offensive and believe no one will be "healed" by this action.

Steve Walker, Jacksonville

Howland’s hypocritical ‘howling’

The hypocrisy of Jacksonville City Council member Nick Howland regarding Mayor Donna Deegan’s removal of the Confederate statues in Springfield is astonishing. The City Council had the opportunity to either deny or approve the removal of this monument for over a year, during which time they have done nothing.

While they supported former Mayor Curry’s removal of the Confederate statue in James Weldon Johnson Park, their failure to support this move is only playing politics with our current mayor.

When the removal was initially going to cost $1.3 million, perhaps their hesitancy was understandable, as they are the fiscal stewards of our tax dollars. However, Mayor Deegan did not spend one red cent of tax money to fund this removal; it was totally funded by private donations.

So why are some City Council members so upset?

Perhaps Howland’s disapproval arose because he did not get advance notification about this decision. He seems to prefer being on the inside of every deal or action, especially the annual decisions to fund nonprofits run by council members before considering the funding of other local organizations.

To me, it simply boils down to this: Howland’s howling is divisive and not in the spirit of nonpartisanship.

City Council members had a chance to act decisively, and they failed. The mayor has now acted decisively, and the City Council should support her — not criticize.

Patricia Wojciechowski, Mandarin

Decent humans still exist

On Dec. 23 the Times-Union published a very thoughtful letter titled "Where is human decency?" The writer, having just returned from shopping at a large, crowded pre-Christmas mall, cited numerous examples of folks exhibiting self-centered behavior, rudeness and impatience with other shoppers and drivers.

He observed that more than once the bird was flipped as well.

If put to the test, I think all of us could make an equally strong argument that there is still a lot of human decency out there. The other day I stood in the check-out line at the grocery store just behind a shopper whose cart was filled to the brim and beyond. He noticed that I had just two jars of mincemeat and insisted that I check out ahead of him.

I could bore you with more examples of human decency, but I won’t. What I would recommend is that all of us recognize human decency and acts of kindness when we experience them; that we do not take the positive side of humanity for granted; and that we do not condemn the many for the acts of the few.

As to pointing out to a stranger that his anger at another is unjustified … well, that's above my pay grade.

Sam Heffner, Ponte Vedra Beach

Great strides? More like a slow stroll

I just read U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean’s New Year’s email that notes the “great strides” he and his team made in 2023:

• $1,089,972 returned to taxpayers

• 60,000 responses to constituent letters

• 432 constituent meetings and town halls

• Telephone Town Halls with 40,000+ constituents

There’s no explanation of how the money was returned to the taxpayers of the 4th District; by a rough estimate it’s about $3.50 per taxpayer. But the details of federal finance are hard to track, so let’s give that one a “maybe.”

Answering letters and holding meetings, however (whether in person or by phone), are not significant results. They are acts of an informational nature, not accomplishments. Tax reform, enhanced environmental protection and responsible funding of the federal government are examples of acts that would have been worthy of note had they been implemented — or even seriously tried.

If Rep. Bean cannot see the absurdity of his comments, then we have some insight into why the House did almost nothing of significance in 2023.

Let’s hope the American people make “great strides” through the 2024 election process, because my guess is that many of the 435 current members of the House almost certainly will not.

Roger Andrews, Fernandina Beach

Voter info card not helpful

Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland and his office could have done more to help everyone vote. For the second year in a row, I received a beautiful red, white and blue mailer with what is called a “Voter Information Card.”

The mailer directs you to detach the card. What it doesn’t say is what you should do with it after you have detached the card. It goes on to tell you that the card is almost worthless in terms of being useful if you want to vote.

It states (in two languages) that the card is “not accepted as a voter ID” but remarkably it fails to mention anywhere the most important information it should provide — that is, what is an accepted form of identification that you must have with you if you want to cast your vote.

What a waste of an opportunity to inform the voting public. The Supervisor of Elections website does tell you what you’ll need to bring to vote, if you have access to the internet and are tech-savvy enough to find it (duvalelections.com/Election-Information/Election-Day-Voting).

Too bad they left this information out of the mailer. All I can say is: Please vote.

Stephen A. Hould, Neptune Beach

Why not lead the way on AI?

Jacksonville has four institutions of higher learning. They should, with the proper funding, combine their efforts to make Jacksonville a hub for research and development of artificial intelligence. Presently, AI promises to exceed and far surpass the advances of the Industrial Revolution.

It would behoove the Mayor’s Office and City Council to consider AI’s use in all aspects of the city’s infrastructure. This could lead to a reduction in operating expenses and enrich the lives of the citizens.

I’m sure Shad Khan utilizes AI in his business. Possibly, he would be amenable to lend his company’s expertise as noted above. It would also be an opportunity for him and the city to begin an AI development facility in Jacksonville.

To me, the greatest benefit of AI is in the field of medicine. Once again, Jacksonville has excellent medical facilities for research and development. I believe a coalition with local universities would make Jacksonville a center that would attract unique businesses and offer employment — now and in the future.

At this point, there are few cities involved or encouraging AI development centers. In Florida, only Tampa and Miami are involved.

John Haynes, Jacksonville

Get revenge or lead the nation

Donald Trump said he would dismantle the "deep state" and "weaponize" the U.S. Department of Justice to go after his enemies if he is elected in 2024.

First, if Donald Trump is elected, he won't have to dismantle anything because I suspect most people will quit. I can't imagine any attorney at the Justice Department risking their career to work for a second Trump administration.

Second, is this really the best thing for the country? While Trump is going after his many enemies, how will anything else get done? From what I’ve heard, revenge tends to be a full-time job.

Third, is this Christian behavior? Does it set a good example for our children? What about turning the other cheek and letting God handle the retribution?

If Trump is elected, his second administration will be complete chaos and I suspect it will end in disgrace, just as his first one did. You may not agree, but do you really want to take a chance and find out?

Scott Schleifer, Jacksonville

Age is just a number

If President Joe Biden is elected to a second term, he will be one year younger than I am now when he finishes it. I risk looking like Methuselah for this confession, but it is not so bad.

I went whitewater rafting this past summer, still ride my bike and fast-walk 25-30 minutes every day, except on Sundays, which is when I preach from the pulpit. My congregation is a lovely group of elderly persons — and some of their parents. From Monday through Friday, I also serve as a voluntary chaplain in a nearby hospital.

I continue to walk upright, do not slur or mispronounce words and occasionally look at lovely ladies. Once in a while, I still remember why.

All of this is to say is that, while Biden is “older,” he is not too old to serve. He is fully capable of continuing to help America hold the line on what she was at her Constitutional beginnings.

Rev. Dr. James Black, Jacksonville

Turnabout is fair play on abortion laws

Republicans have had a chuckle at Republican governors (including our own) sending immigrants to cities with Democratic mayors to be housed, fed and cared for. Fair enough. But using that same logic, shouldn’t Republican states then be sent every child born because the mother was refused an abortion?

The program needn’t be mandatory, nor 100% government funded. The Catholic Church, and all other churches that support the abortion ban, could fund half. A program should be set up for the care, shelter, feeding and education of these unwanted children in all states with Republican leadership. If you want them to be born, then you need to take care of them, at least through the age of 18.

I know orphanages exist, and they generally do the best they can. But they are sometimes underfunded, understaffed and/or overcrowded. These Republican and church-sponsored centers would ensure that every unwanted child got a middle-class upbringing.

It is the least they could do.

Mike Lawrence, Avondale

Don’t cut funding for WIC

I recently got the news that the Women, Infants and Children assistance program is facing funding cuts and I felt hopeless. As a single mother of two toddlers, WIC plays an essential role in my household. It is a bridge that allows me to feed two growing girls and takes the stress off of where our next meal will come from.

The WIC program is absolutely essential and cannot be defunded. Without it, millions of families like mine will go without food. Countless children will go to bed hungry and wake up with the same emptiness in their tummies.

To our U.S. Congress, please — continue to fully fund the WIC program.

Ebony Thacer, Jacksonville

Kudos to Mayor Deegan

Mayor Donna Deegan has shown courage and commitment in fulfilling her campaign promise to take down the Confederate statue in Springfield Park. In refusing to settle this any earlier, the City Council has demonstrated its own unwillingness and inability to deal with social problems that should have been dispatched long ago.

In my mind, the proposed state legislation to punish such actions further proves that there exists among us a backward-looking, racist culture.

Elizabeth Fiorite, Westside

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Florida could see 2019 gun background checks law reversed in 2024