A question for Republicans: Shouldn’t I have the freedom not to get shot? | Opinion

Gun safety

I have to ask Republicans: Is freedom from not being shot one of the basic freedoms? Can’t we dispense with having to pay taxes to fortify our schools and other gathering places? Must human life be so ethereal? For a party supposedly embracing freedom, responsible spending, and fighting crime, Republicans are doing the opposite. Remind me again of the benefits of unregulated gun ownership.

Larry Bennett, Matthews

Teacher pay

Regarding “CMS has more than 500 teacher job openings before first day of school,” (Aug. 27):

Interesting article about the huge number of teaching positions still unfilled before school starts. Even more interesting was that there was no mention of pay. North Carolina is in the bottom five states in the United States for beginning teacher pay, and 34th in average teacher pay. I can’t be the only one who sees the correlation there. Any article about teacher shortages should include that information.

If North Carolina wants to raise educated children, lawmakers need to raise teacher pay ASAP.

Lisa Baucom, Kannapolis

School funding

While North Carolina’s state leaders busy themselves usurping the opinions of the medical profession by writing and passing bills restricting abortions and dictating how the sexuality of young people should be addressed, our public school teachers are resorting to begging on social media.

Not only are our public schools in desperate need of teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria staff and others, it appears the teachers themselves are not being provided with the necessary materials to effectively teach their classes and deliver students who are able to succeed in a highly competitive world.

With what seems to be no level of reflection and a highly developed capacity for self importance, our state representatives are wasting time on harmful and hurtful bills that are coarsening our culture and destroying hopes of progress. Their time would be so much better spent on making education of North Carolina students one of their top priorities.

Pat Kunder, Charlotte

2024 ballot

In recent years, the Democratic Party has made a lot of noise over voter disenfranchisement. They wanted access to mail-in ballots and wanted mail-in ballot deadlines expanded — all in the name of preventing this or that group from being denied their right to vote.

Now, some Democrats are attempting to disenfranchise people through efforts to remove Donald Trump from the 2024 ballot. A substantial segment of the population may be denied the ability to vote for the candidate of their choosing, by the opposing party. Apparently there is a group some Democrats don’t mind disenfranchising.

Mike Pflum, Oak Island

NC job losses

My heart was heavy when I saw my home community, western North Carolina, was losing a major employer, Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams.

Growing up south of Alexander County, the furniture giant was a household name because of the livelihoods that depended on the business.

As 500 former employees look for work elsewhere, the importance of social mobility will be crucial, in particular: community and education. A person looking for work needs connections and awareness of opportunities, so everyone needs to help their neighbor. Community colleges also have a role to play in career mobility.

As our economy fluctuates, remember we are in this together. An economy that serves everyone with opportunities is a vibrant one.

Aaron Kohrs, Alexandria, Va.

Gen Z

Regarding “NC congressman says universities are ‘coddle farms’ for Gen Z. Really?” (Aug. 28 Opinion):

Contrary to U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy’s ill-informed Twitter screed, Gen Z is not “coddled” by anyone, let alone their colleges. There’s no evidence that they’re being fired at a higher rate than their older peers — and plenty of evidence that they’re simply not going to accept the U.S. economy’s endemic wage theft and poor management. As a management consultant for many years, I salute them. They make my job easier.

Murphy is just another rich politician who wants to pull up the ladder behind himself. I wish Gen Z luck in getting rid of him, and I pledge my support.

Lex Alexander, Greensboro