Sunday letters: Homeless families and children; safer communities with gun bill

Children of the homeless

Mark Patinkin did a great job describing how the former Charlesgate senior complex in Providence has become "home" to many homeless families ("At Charlesgate, families needing shelter have found more than a roof," News, April 2).

While the story definitely pulled at the readers' heartstrings, especially for the children involved, one short paragraph spoke volumes about the hopelessness that children feel in such situations. A 15-year-old girl living at the shelter who, regardless of her circumstances, still attends high school in Providence, voiced this hope for her future − to become an eyelash tech one day.

For those of us who raised children with aspirations to become astronauts, doctors, or scientists, to hear a lovely child express such limited hopes for her future is heartbreaking and pathetic. We can tell ourselves that homeless adults have only themselves to blame for the decisions that put them in their situations.  We can't say the same for children who had no control over the bad decisions made by their parents.

As Nelson Mandela said, "History will judge us by the difference we make in the everyday lives of children.”

Thanks, Mark, for helping your readers see how the homeless crisis affects our most vulnerable − our children.

Lonnie Barham, Warwick

Bill would result in a safer community

Regarding the story “Senate approves 'safe-storage' gun bill" (News, March 20): Any steps taken to prevent deaths by guns are progress toward a safer community in Rhode Island.

The safe-storage bill passed by the Senate recently makes it harder for children to access weapons at home, helping to reduce the risk of gun-related fatalities. The bill details that gun owners are required to safely lock their guns in a securely locked container.

The leading cause of death among children in America is guns. There is a history of incidents involving irresponsible gun storage directly relating to child fatalities and other consequences. This bill will prevent tragedies and help to eliminate the risk of future gun-related deaths.

Opponents argue that locking away guns prevents them from swift access during times of need, such as self-defense in emergencies. It is understandable to want to be able to defend a family and household in dire situations. However, the new law would impose more benefits to the community than negatives.

There have been numerous cases of suicide, homicide, and other crimes in Rhode Island over the past year due to poorly secured guns. The safe-storage bill will reduce the possibility of further incidents, fostering a safer environment for everyone.

Trinity Pickering, Lincoln

'Opinion' in a news story

Katherine Gregg does yeoman's work reporting on state government. However, her characterization of the state's open records law as "famously flawed" in her March 21 article was inappropriate ("Agencies oppose records changes," News). Rather than reporting the facts and letting the reader form their own opinion of the law, she injected hers in the first paragraph. Statements like that belong on the opinion page, not in a news story.

Judy Davis, Providence

Keep calling it Victory Day

I read with great interest the eloquently written commentary from Patricia Morgan regarding the bill put forth in the House to rename Victory Day to Peace and Remembrance Day ("Bill to rename Victory Day dishonors out vets," Commentary, March 17). I was drawn to the commentary as my mother and her sisters are in the celebratory photo that accompanied the letter.

As the daughter of a World War II Navy veteran who fought in the Pacific, I am constantly sickened and deeply offended by this progressive attitude that pervades our country.  The men and women who fought in that war sacrificed and saved millions of civilian lives, cultures, religions, governments, and countries.  There wasn’t another country that could have successfully taken on the Nazis in Europe nor the Japanese in the Pacific. Europe was crushed under the weight of that war and had the Japanese succeeded, English might not be the language we now speak in the United States. It should not be a day that is set aside with a vague title that dishonors the magnitude of the end of that war.

Shame on you, Rep. Jennifer Stewart, for denigrating the naming of that day. You should count your lucky stars that you live in a country where you can even make such a recommendation.

Maybe you should reread some of the realhistory associated with that war or sit down and speak with those who served or their children so they can share with you what they recall.

Mary Maddock DeWitt, Barrington

The GOP and immigrants

I enjoy listening to the GOP tell us that the problem with immigration at the border is the greatest problem our country faces.  Never mind that the GOP controlled Congress from 1995 to 2007 and from 2015 to 2019 and did nothing about it.  It's an election year after all, and the Republicans need some talking points.

Donald Trump never built the wall he promised to build and the Mexicans never paid for it.  In fact, his buddy Steve Bannon was accused of stealing a million dollars from the "We build the wall" fund and Trump pardoned him.  Yes, Bannon was accused of stealing a million dollars from Trump supporters and he pardoned him and his supporters do not appear to care.

It's interesting to hear conservatives rail about brown skinned immigrants supposedly coming to America causing an existential problem for our country, while at the same time banning the discussion of how white Christian immigrants came to America and killed the Native Americans and stole their land.  The GOP is not interested in reviewing history, but creating revisionist history.

Steve Knapp, Pawtucket

The 'uncommitted' in the primary

In your front-page story "Easy wins for Biden, Trump in RI primary" (News, April 3) you characterize the movement to vote "uncommitted" in the Democratic primary as organized by a coalition of pro-Palestinian groups.

It would be more accurate to say it was a coalition of pro-peace groups who support a ceasefire and aid to the Palestinian people because these groups are pro-human and believe that the murder of non-combatants, women, and children, whoever it is done by, is unacceptable.

Nancy Houston, Cranston

Rooms at the Lighthouse Inn

We are always hearing that there's not enough affordable housing in Rhode Island, as well as shelter beds. So what are we doing? We're tearing down the former Lighthouse Inn in Galilee! Why couldn't it have been rehabbed into family housing or shelter space?

Yes, more regular RIPTA service would have been required. (This only solidifies the thought that RIPTA should be funded as a public service and not a self-funding agency.) Keep in mind that there's only so much housing that can be crammed into Providence, Warwick and Pawtucket.

Paul Kelley, Providence

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Sunday letters: Homeless families and children; safer communities with gun bill