Thursday's letters: Overturn gun decision, thank SMH board, answer questions about EV
Dispel gun myth created by Heller decision
Congratulations to the author of the May 23 letter “Repeal and replace Second Amendment,” and to the Herald-Tribune for printing it.
It’s not necessary, though, to repeal the Second Amendment to mitigate the enormous social harm that has resulted from its misinterpretation by the Supreme Court in its 2008 Heller v. District of Columbia decision.
From that egregiously wrong decision an urban myth has evolved that the amendment guarantees to almost anyone a virtually unlimited right to own and carry almost any kind of firearm almost anywhere.
It’s time to dispel that myth.
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The Heller interpretation brushed aside decades of contrary precedents and the clear language of the amendment: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
The introductory clause of the amendment is clearly inconsistent with Heller and the myth that has grown up around it.
Hopefully, the current court will overrule Heller and restore to the states the power reserved to them by the 10th Amendment to enact and enforce sensible firearms regulation.
Harry W. Quillian, Esq., Bradenton
Praise for Sarasota Memorial staff, board
I would echo the praise May 22 for Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s employees. The quality of care, clinical excellence and deep commitment to the community is evident every day in the tireless work of all employees and physicians.
I would also offer a large “Thank You” to the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board, which governs and provides oversight of the health system’s efforts in carrying out its mission.
I have the honor of serving as one of two community representatives on the board’s Mission and Planning Committee and witness firsthand how this board considers the strategic plans and projects brought before it for consideration.
As a retired 23-year senior executive with a major health system in Cincinnati, Ohio, I have extensive experience in how boards operate and serve their communities. Sarasota residents should be equally thankful and proud of the work of these volunteer leaders who have helped guide SMH to its position as a crown jewel of our community.
Stephen Schwalbe, Sarasota
Students will graduate unprepared for life
On May 21, you published an article titled “State targets CRT, social justice topics in textbooks for schools,” describing the standards for which books would be selected or prohibited.
There has been much lip service paid to preparing students for life after school. With recent legislation, we will be sending students out into the world who are ignorant and socially inept, lacking the knowledge as well as the skills necessary to build partnerships and navigate through an increasingly complex world.
As the former head of human resources for a Fortune 500 company, I know that the best employees have an education that prepared them to think critically, face differences, work collaboratively and understand history enough to incorporate learning from the past into decisions for the future.
Gov. Ron DeSantis likes to think Florida is open for business, but businesses won’t be satisfied that the educational system he is shaping will provide the employees they need to succeed.
Felice Schulaner, Sarasota
Questions unanswered about electric cars
They’re telling us our electric future is nigh. In fact, in just a few years we’ll be driving electric cars and forever off fossil fuels.
I must have answers to a few questions before we arrive at this hallowed place. When is the countrywide recharging infrastructure going to be in place? What will that cost? Who will pay for it? How quickly will it charge almost dead batteries in my EV? What will we pay for this “fill-up”?
The national grid is now stressed. How many new power plants must be built? What “energy” will power these plants? What is the true cost, including environmental costs of producing these new vehicles, considering they’ll still have lithium and other rare metals/elements?
What is our cost going to be when we have to replace our spent batteries with new ones? We know when we buy a gallon of gas, and travel, say, 35 miles what that cost is. What is the comparable cost of a “gallon” of electricity to carry us the same distance?
We need answers to all of the above. With sufficient, accurate answers, maybe I’ll have a better feeling about our electric future.
It still feels like a feel-good initiative rather than something backed up with hard facts and data.
Al E. Bavry, Sarasota
READER BOX
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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Restore gun regulation to states, thank hospital board
