Mask up the students

DeSantis plans executive order to halt school mask mandates | July 30

As a grandparent of five Pinellas County school-age children, I urge the Pinellas County School Board to mandate masks in all of the public schools. Doctors and scientists are telling us that masks save lives. Please listen to them and not to politicians who are catering to their base rather than being concerned with the health and welfare of the community. The elected governing body of our schools has the right to tell students, teachers, other school employees and visitors to wear masks. Mandating masks for everyone in schools also can teach the students responsibility and concern for all as opposed to just their own self comfort. That is a great lesson in patriotism and benevolence.

Deena Silver, Oldsmar

Not that hard

CDC pivots: Mask up | July 28

The CDC and the Biden administration have done a terrible job of explaining the COVID vaccine to the public. They should develop simple, easy-to-understand public service announcements explaining the messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines. A typical vaccine puts a weakened or inactive germ into our bodies. The mRNA vaccine teaches our cells how to make a protein — or even just a piece of a protein — that triggers an immune response inside our bodies. I for one would rather have a protein developed by my body than to be injected with a germ. If I can explain this, why can’t the government? The messages also should include some clear, succinct reasons why people should get vaccinated.

John Haugen, Gulfport

Armed and safe

Hi-yo, heed the lessons of that masked man | Perspective, July 25

The Lone Ranger was also my favorite defender of law and order in my early years. The columnist makes much of the Lone Ranger wearing a mask. But the masked man also carried two six-shooters and used them wisely whenever necessary. In the Lone Ranger’s hands, the guns were not bad things. In that same Perspective section, a letter writer talked about the responsibility that comes with the right to own a gun. From 1947 through 1950, President Harry Truman, a Democrat, trusted me to carry an M-1 rifle. Later, in 1952 he trusted me to carry six 50-caliber machine guns, up to 1,800 rounds of ammunition and two 1,000-pound bombs in a place called Korea. Later still, from 1959 through 1970, all of the presidents of the United States allowed me — no, paid me — to carry nuclear weapons. I think I can be trusted with a handgun.

Alfred D’Amario, Hudson

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