لنستخرج كنوزا من المعرفة و الإبداع و العلم و الأفكار
Florida fortunate to be led by DeSantis
The accelerated relocation to Florida from other states is not due solely to climate and the lack of a state income tax. Another factor has come into play, i.e., Gov. Ron DeSantis.
A Florida-born son from Dunedin, the governor's extensive resume includes a Yale bachelor’s degree and a law degree from Harvard.
He served in the Navy as a JAG officer, earning military decorations for active duty in Iraq, and continues to serve in the naval reserve. DeSantis knows how the military functions.
DeSantis was a Florida congressman before winning the governorship.
His leadership during the pandemic has been exemplary, with his policies resulting in far less impact on Florida’s economy than other states experienced. I have heard several comments from out-of-state visitors that coming to Florida was like another world from their northern origins.
Gov. DeSantis has all the qualifications to be a national leader. A Donald Trump-Ron DeSantis ticket would be awesome in 2024.
Compare that with a Joe Biden-Kamala Harris – or Harris and anyone – ticket.
DeSantis has the education, experience, patriotism and youth to be a major player in the U.S. political arena for decades. We are indeed fortunate.
Richard Paolillo, Nokomis
Radical gun reform will stop killings
How often do we have to hear the National Rifle Association repeat the self-serving, erroneous phrase, "Guns don't kill people – people kill people?"
This supports the supposition that all guns are OK and we should buy more and more. The NRA says the answer to all mass shootings and random killings lies solely in improving the mental health of gun owners.
If the horrendous number of killings is approached only from the standpoint of mental health, we will continue to hear, ad nauseam, "Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims and their families."
We are tired and sick at heart from hearing that platitude, which is useless without action. Change requires a common-sense approach, which must include radical gun regulations.
• Make ownership and manufacturing of high-capacity weapons illegal, and include buyback programs.
• Rescind all carry permits, except for the police and approved security guards.
• Allow private ownership only of sportsman-type rifles and guns for home protection.
• Encourage people to follow Isaiah 2:4: "They shall beat their swords (guns) into plowshares, and their spears (automatic weapons) into pruning hooks …"
We will destroy the two guns we own. Join us and support gun reform.
Barbara and Paul Gerhardt, Osprey
Governor chose date to sign anti-trans bill
I'm quite sure that Gov. Ron DeSantis knew that June 1 kicked off a month of LGBTQ Pride celebrations, not only in Florida but around the country (“DeSantis signs trans athlete ban,” June 2).
He sent a cruel message loudly and clearly by choosing to sign the repressive, anti-trans bill on that particular day. Hey, governor, why didn't you wait until June 12 so you could “commemorate” the massacre at the Pulse nightclub?
Way to get the LGBTQ community and our allies mobilized. 2022 can't come fast enough.
Valerie Fisher, Bradenton
Accept Biden as president, move on
On June 1, you published a letter from a reader who is still questioning President Joe Biden's victory and vote total (“Biden's victory beggars belief”).
Attorney General William Barr, who was certainly no friend of Biden’s, said there was no widespread election fraud. Chris Krebs, of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said the Nov. 3 election was “the most secure in American history.”
The Trump campaign went to court multiple times; the cases were routinely dismissed or dropped.
People who don't believe the election results were legitimate are questioning the integrity of boards of elections in states nationwide.
As far as the total number of votes cast, perhaps the writer has forgotten how divisive Donald Trump was, and how he motivated people to get out and vote – for and against him.
There is no question that many of the people who voted for Biden did so not because they necessarily loved him, but because they couldn't imagine how our country could endure four more years of Trump.
It is time to put the 2020 election behind us, accept that Biden is the duly elected president, and move on.
Stephen Dickman, Sarasota
Only Biden voters should pay tax hike
I have a great idea!
Those who voted for President Joe Biden can pay the huge tax increases that he’s proposing in his crazy budget. Those who didn’t vote for Mr. Biden will not be required to have their taxes increased.
Under the Constitution, Americans cannot be taxed without representation. Presently, 74 million citizens are not represented!
Sounds fair to me.
Melissa Furman, Sarasota
