What will it take? As a country we have so much work to do on issues of equality and criminal justice. We know that. But right now there can be no more tolerance for guns. The majority of Americans have voiced their support for more gun control; our government has not listened. We must begin immediately with a ban on all assault weapons. If everywhere in this country all police departments, veterans groups and fire departments stood strong against the NRA and gun lobbies, and demanded change, I believe it could happen. It has to. Meanwhile we pray and protest peacefully.
One soothing balm for all this sadness and violence is the innocence of children. Please, Recorder, bring back the large size artwork that accompanies the weather news. The tiny 1-by-1-inch picture on the front page is a poor substitute for the 4-by-4-inch size that used to be on the weather page. Please, give space for this interesting, beautiful, and fun art. It used to be my favorite feature of the paper, and often where I turned first to put a smile on my face before reading the news. Let’s honor and appreciate the efforts of the children. We all need that for balance in our troubled world.
Kathleen O’Rourke
Shelburne Falls