Students Deserve to Feel Safe Where They Live, Learn, Play

On March 24, led by the students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, students and their loved ones, will take to the streets of Washington D.C. and cities and towns all over this country to demand that Congress enact legislation to prevent gun violence.

These young people have shown incredible leadership and courage in the face of unimaginable tragedy.

We pediatricians are incredibly proud of the students in Florida, Maine and all around the country leading the national conversation on gun violence and we support their endeavors.

Everyday 46 children between the ages of 1-19 are shot in this country. Violent attacks, homicide and suicide account for most of these shootings in older children and adolescents. Younger children fall victim to accidental injuries; 70 percent of which are preventable with proper gun storage.

Gun violence is a public health epidemic that uniquely affects our country and our students have figured this out and they are asking the adults for action to save lives.

Members of the Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics offer their full support, we will be marching with you and voting on Nov. 6. You deserve to feel safe where you live, learn and play.

American Academy of Pediatrics, Maine Chapter, President

Dr. Steven Meister and Vice

President Dr. Deborah Hagler

Fortman for State Senate

I am excited about State Senate candidate, Laura Fortman, who is running to represent most of Lincoln County. I’ve lived in Maine for most of my adult life and watched this state and county get older and older. I am happy to retire here, but I don’t want to see the entire area become a retirement community. I feel fortunate that my daughter and her husband were able to return to Maine to raise their family, but many people are not so lucky. They must watch their grandchildren grow up from afar because of a lack of opportunities and failure of the state to invest in people and infrastructure.

I want to live in a diverse community where people of all ages and backgrounds can make a living and support themselves and their families. Laura Fortman has the skills and experience to build that kind of economy and workforce. As Maine Labor Commissioner for over seven years, and a leader in the federal Labor Department for almost four years, Laura brings exceptional assets to the table. She knows what employers need, what workers need, and how to bring those two things together. We are lucky to have her here in Lincoln County, and I hope you will join me in choosing her to be our voice in Augusta.

Lee Warren,

Damariscotta

Comments are not available on this story.