Readers comment on gun violence, traffic safety, noise pollution and critical thinking
Reduce gun violence in Gainesville
I’ve been reading lately about the increasing gun violence in Gainesville. I grew up here in the early 1970s and don’t remember gun violence being the omnipresent problem it is today.
Today, firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens in the U.S. Today, the gun violence problem is totally out of control.
Every person in the U.S., gun owner or not, is at greater risk because of the increase in gun violence. Though it can feel impossible to change something that seems so woven into our culture, this issue is worth fighting for. Research demonstrates that common-sense solutions and community-based interventions can make a huge difference.
I often feel like the real enemies in this fight are those who try to ensure that stakeholders are never all in the same room together to figure things out. So, let’s all get in the room! Come to the Florida Day of Action on Sun, Feb. 27, 2-5 p.m., outdoors at the MLK Multipurpose Center.
The event will feature speakers, entertainment and opportunities to take meaningful actions to support life-saving legislation and community organizations doing the work to reduce violence right here in Gainesville. More info at: https://momsdemandaction.org/fl22/
Andrea Holbrook-Wagman, Gainesville
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Noise pollution
Let's start with a definition of "muffler": a device for reducing the noise emitted by the exhaust of an internal combustion engine — especially a noise-deadening device forming part of the exhaust system of an automobile, according to Wikipedia.
If ever there was a one-word oxymoron, "muffler" gets my vote!
Gainesville and Alachua County appear to have abandoned any pretense of enforcing noise ordinances when it comes to motorcycles or other vehicles. See Chapter 15 of the Gainesville Code of Ordinances for city-specific detail.
We live about 1 1/2 miles from the nearest main thoroughfare — Northwest 43rd Street. Yet we are frequently disturbed by motorcycle noise, plus that of other vehicles (including, by my observation, pickups with strangely elevated front suspensions that make them appear to be forever driving uphill, and clearly overriding most cars in case of a rear-end collision!).
I agree with Scot Smith's opinion column in the Feb. 13 edition of The Sun. We should enforce the ordinance, or simply acknowledge that we will simply look ("listen"?) away. This is truly "pollution."
Steve Kirn, Gainesville
Pay attention
A lot is being discussed in our town about speed limits versus pedestrians. I recently witnessed three vehicles go through a pedestrian crosswalk with a stop sign for cars to stop when a pedestrian is waiting to cross. This was at the crosswalk close to the Atrium. Fortunately, the woman waited to cross to be sure the cars coming toward the crosswalk stopped.
I watched as three vehicles just ignored the sign and the pedestrian and continued on their merry way not realizing what they had done. Speed was not the problem; it was ignoring the rules of the road.
Drivers need to pay attention not only to speed but road signs. Luckily nothing happened due to a smart pedestrian. Pay attention, drivers!
Donna W. Garrett, Gainesville
Critical thinking
The Sun recently quoted Gov. Ron DeSantis as saying schools need to teach students science, history, civics, an understanding of our Constitution and what makes our country great. All well and good but he left out one very important thing and that is to teach students to think critically.
Howard B. Rothman, Gainesville
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This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Letters to the editor for Feb. 20, 2022
