The recent mass shooting in Colorado reminds us that we are not safe at shopping centers, malls, movie theaters, churches, event centers, schools or anywhere in the U.S. where citizens congregate ("Mass shooting at supermarket," front page, March 23). We need leadership to pass meaningful gun control legislation, but we do not have it, despite support from overwhelming majorities of gun owners and non-gun-owners. So access is the only answer.
We have examples of regulating access, thereby safeguarding the citizenry. Take the UPS Minneapolis hub for instance. All employees and visitors must go through a secure entrance with metal detectors. This ensures the safety of these front-line essential workers. We need to control access to places where citizens congregate. Think of it as a jobs program for the construction industry, rather than gun control. If a shooter cannot reach us, we can shop, worship, learn, teach and be entertained again without dying due to lack of political courage of our so-called leaders.
Erick Highum, Fridley
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Just moments ago I went outside and lowered the flag at my school to half-staff to honor the victims of the mass shooting in Boulder, Colo. Yesterday at sunset we had raised that very same flag at the conclusion of an honorary period for the victims of the previous mass shooting in Atlanta. It has become an empty gesture in light of the fact that we continue to mourn the loss of innocent people at the hands of gunmen but do nothing to rein in the mayhem. My suggestion is that we leave the Stars and Stripes at half-staff until our elected leaders display the courage and fortitude necessary to enact legislation that limits the purchase and possession of handguns and assault weapons.
Stephen A. Miltich, St. Bonifacius
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The Boulder County district attorney promised multiple times to "secure justice" for the mass killings in a Boulder grocery store. My need at tragic times like this is not to hear talk of justice but instead words like "prevention of this ever happening again," or "finding and stopping the root causes of such violence." Better still, when and how will we human beings stop killing one another in such terrible ways and begin respecting the lives of every living person?
Tom Westerhaus, Hudson, Wis.
MINIMUM WAGE
Does everyone else get a bump, too?
Hennepin County Board Chair Marion Greene displays the best of intentions in increasing Hennepin County's minimum wage to $20 an hour, but you know what kind of a road is paved with good intentions.
The boost will be wonderful for anyone now earning less than $20, and the board has indicated that it has the means to fund the increase. But what about employees now at $20 or more — as supervisors or because of experience or special skills? Their salaries will need to go up, to recognize performance and to provide an incentive to accept additional responsibility. Has the funding for this bracket creep been calculated and allocated?
Greene suggests that the county's actions might serve as an example to private companies, but there's a big difference. The board can force taxpayers to stand and deliver. It doesn't work that way in the private sector. Firms must cover additional costs by raising prices, reducing staff and/or introducing automation.
Especially for restaurants and other small businesses operating on slim margins, following the county's example would be fiscally suicidal, hurting far more people than the county would help.