EDITOR’S NOTE: Letters will be accepted for the Open Forum for publication in the next available issue after receipt. Letters may be sent to Forest Lake Times, 146 N. Lake St., Suite 125, Forest Lake, or by e-mail to ryan.howard@ecm-inc.com. Letters should not exceed 250 words and must be signed with the writer’s name, address and telephone number. Deadline is noon Monday. The newspaper reserves the right to edit letters and assure that rules of libel and good taste are not violated.
Context matters
In 1791, Congress (and not God, as Brad Kriss cites in his June 30 letter) gave the citizens of this great country the right to bear arms. And since we know that our political leaders are never wrong, there are some that would consider discussion of further amendments to this right to be a near act of terrorism. In the debate over limiting gun and ammunition ownership, it is paramount that we know the details and understand the context in which our Bill of Rights was written. It is worth mentioning that this right to bear arms was limited to a select group of citizens, among which women and people of color were not included. Thankfully, Congress have made amendments over the years to reflect the values of an evolving and progressive nation, because believe it or not, there are stark differences between the America of 1791 and the America of 2016. So I say it again. The details and the context matters. We must be prepared to view our society and its issues through a critical lens. We cannot dismiss issues like mass shootings as tragic aberrations when there were 372 of them just last year. As with any epidemic, we must be open to all possible solutions, carefully weighing the risks and benefits. Before we were given the right to bear arms, we were given the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Brianna Heilman
Forest Lake
Time for progress
A tragic accident claimed a young girl’s life. Our hearts and sincere sympathies go out to her family and friends.
This spring, district parents were sent a “safety survey.” I stated my concerns over the major intersection of State Highway 97, Goodview Avenue and 8th Street, where 7th through 12th grade students walk daily to and from Century Junior High and the high school.
Forest Lake School District, you’ve stated school safety is important and included plans for such upgrades across the district in this massive bond project, but how will you address intersection safety concerns? Why haven’t you spent a pittance on a school crossing guard before and after school hours here? Why haven’t you petitioned MNDoT to request for a school speed limit zone (e.g. 15-20 mph during school hours in this vicinity)? How is it that the speed limit is 55 mph at a critical school crossing juncture?
Superintendent Madsen, School Board and Forest Lake School District: how will you now address the daily safety issue of children to be able safely walk across the road? What funds will you allocate for a new pedestrian bridge over one of the most notorious crossings in our city, where construction trucks, cars and minivans blow red lights daily?
Our tax dollars are calling out to you as we pave the way to a brighter Forest Lake. We ask that our brightest lights, our students, simply be able to walk to and from school each day and into their future.
Dawn Quigley
Forest Lake