Background Checks Will Reduce Gun Violence

Five for 25 years. That would be a reasonable statistic if I were counting natural deaths of students I have taught. As it is, five of my students have died unnaturally, kids who came to classes, turned in work, or not, and came to school anyway, believing they could improve their lives in the future. They all died by gunshot. In the girl’s case, she was the red-headed kid who tangled with the Russian in her head trying to input her new homeland’s language, English. Two of the boys were shy but wanted so much to make friends; they always did want to be in a group, never wanted to do a project alone. But wanting so much to make friends, they found the wrong ones and are now dead. A “friend” disagreed with them one morning. Shot them dead.

Another boy wasn’t shy at all; he could make everyone laugh at the most ridiculous mistake, his or someone else’s. He had strong opinions though, and one day after he left school, someone didn’t agree with him. Apparently. Shot him outside the door of his family’s apartment.

The killings have increased. It isn’t the district, or the school, or the kids themselves. These days, someone’s angry or feels “right” and solves the problem with a gun. I used to teach my students to listen, to see more than one side of an issue. Now, I spend more time teaching them how to escape an active shooter, how to handle themselves when someone is angry. Add in lockdown drills too and there just isn’t as much time to teach history or English.

With the lack of background checks for private sales in Maine, anyone can easily purchase a gun. Background checks are about preventing dangerous people from purchasing a gun and I am relieved that I’ll be able to vote this fall to apply the background check law to private sales. While it won’t end all shootings, it will reduce gun violence and perhaps my students can spend more time learning English and History. Maybe fewer will die.

Christina Mitchell,

Cumberland

Why is Good Housing so Hard to Find?

It has come to my attention that rents in our areas are outrageously expensive. As a previous home owner, I am aware of what the cost of a mortgage is and these landlords are completely out of control but asking three time the price for a run down, filthy, outdated apartment or house for rent. We hard working citizens in this area deserve to be able to live in a clean, updated, reasonably priced home. My husband and I have been searching for a rental for some months and have yet to find an affordable, clean place to live. Bath, West Bath, North Bath, Phippsburg, Georgetown, Woolwich landlords. Please take notice. Please consider lowering your rentals so that we, Mainers, can afford to live in a nice, clean home, neighborhood and environment.

Jacqueline Wallace,

Bath

Giving Thanks

On behalf of myself and my family, I’d like to sincerely thank the board of directors and founder, Patty L. Sparks, of The Village Heritage Society of Brunswick for the generous “Sparks” Dragon #9 Scholarship I received this Spring. I am quite honored to have been selected for this prestigious award honoring the unique “Spirit” of academic achievement, sportsmanship, community service and leadership. The award, which totaled a substantial value of $1000, will definitely aid in paying my tuition at the University of Maine this Fall.

I’d like to also give a huge thank you to all of the local businesses in the Brunswick area who generously donated over $350 in gift cards, certificates and other merchandise. This is yet another example of how amazing our community is, where the spirit of giving and fellowship is evident on a daily basis.

Throughout the interview process, I was also fortunate enough to learn numerous historical facts about Brunswick High School, as told through the eyes of two tremendous and prideful BHS Alumni. This gave me an even greater appreciation for the school I grew up in and came to love.

I truly appreciate all of the kindness and knowledge I gained throughout this process, and I can’t thank you all enough. Best of luck down the road and I hope to meet up with you all again.

Thomas B. Hanson,

Brunswick