Make schools safe

My name is Evan Melner. I am a 13-year-old at Bend International School. I believe deeply that children should be able to have a safe place to learn without violence. Children should be able to go to school, not having to worry about gun violence and school shootings. Gun violence is a serious issue for schools. The way to stop school shootings is to apply universal background checks and ban assault rifles from being made in the United States. This is an issue that is not only important to me but to other schools as well.

Universal background checks are a necessary element to stopping these traumatizing school shootings. One way universal background checks contribute to stopping school shootings is because the school shooters would not be able to purchase automatic firearms if they had been previously convicted of a crime. For example if the Parkland shooter would have had a background check lives would be saved and that school shooting would not have taken place.

Bans on assault rifles is also a very necessary factor in stopping gun violence, particularly school shootings. If the government puts a ban on assault weapons we will save countless numbers of lives from being taken. I’m asking senators, Democrats, Republicans, and members of Congress to step up and save the lives of our children and teachers. This can happen only by applying bans to assault weapons and background checks to anyone who wants to purchase a gun. I am prepared to fight for this cause and I hope you will, too.

Evan Melner

Bend

Children lead

The article in a recent paper, “Youths will push for ban on assault rifles” says Salem youth are organizing a petition drive to put this ban on the November ballot. It has been inspiring to see the numbers of young people engaged in this cause. National polls show a majority of Americans favor a ban. Now they will be asking us to add our signatures to our opinions.

Leave it to our youth, most of whom cannot yet vote, to remind us what democracy looks like. Bravo!

Patricia Marvin

Bend

Suggestions for safer schools

As a public school teacher concerned about school violence, and in view of the recent school protest, may I make five suggestions:

1. Allow teachers who are willing to be trained and certified to carry guns to protect their students. They are truly the first responders. Don’t make them use their bodies as human shields. Rarely do police arrive in time to prevent the shooting.

2. Protect our children from illegal alien felons with criminal records by deporting them, not giving them sanctuary.

3. Twenty-six out of the 27 worst school shootings were committed by boys not raised by their birth fathers. The best way to prevent these serial killers is by strengthening the nuclear family, strengthening marriages, and honoring the importance of fatherhood. Fix the family to fix the child to fix the school to fix the community.

4. The vast majority of school violence is gang related. End gangs (see #1).

5. Hollywood and gaming constantly glorify violence, and our culture diminishes the value of life. A return to traditional family values that served our grandparents so well will dramatically improve school safety. Back in their day, before Thurston (1998) and Columbine (1999), schools were relatively safe.

Blaming guns for school shootings is like blaming cars for drunk driving accidents. Fix the cause, not the vehicle.

John Shepherd

Sisters