Let’s put candidates on record on gun violence

As I sit here with tears in my eyes after the PBS News Hour segment on the one-year anniversary of the school shooting at Uvalde Elementary in Texas, which aired just seconds after the segment on Ron DeSantis’s announcement of his intention to run for the Republican nomination, I would like to offer a suggestion to whoever will organize the various debates we will see as the presidential (and other) candidates are sorted out.

Please ask each candidate to explicitly describe the situation (numbers killed, location, ages, racial status, economic status, etc.) where enough carnage would occur to cause them to support some form of common sense gun legislation — beyond the usual “mental health” trope.

For too many years I have naively assumed we would collectively reach that point in my lifetime. I no longer believe that to be true. I fear there is no number of kids, or adults, or concert-goers, or nightclub attendees or even Congressional softball players that will spur action on the part of our elected officials.

Let’s put candidates (for all offices) on record with regard to the level of carnage they need to see to catalyze action. If their answer is “there is no level” or they waffle on the question, then we at least know what we are in store for if they are elected, and God save us.

— Ron Gager, Boulder

The big problem with garment factories

Garment Factories are horrible because of the horrendous conditions, how much the workers get paid and the abuse the workers experience. Most garment factory workers (82%) have never had any safety or health training. If the workers don’t have safety training many can die like the 1,000-plus people in the tragic Rana Plaza collapse.

It was a result of “shoddy” construction from too much weight and too many floors. Dangerous conditions in garment factories are hidden deep inside the brands. “Brands should be aware of these potential violations, actively address them, and allow workers and activists to help in this process by making their supply chains more transparent,” according to Clean Clothes Campaign.

Also, garment factory workers in Bangladesh typically get $53.54 as a minimum wage each day, which is a fifth of the living wage. “Most of our clothes are made in countries in which workers’ rights are limited or non-existent,” according to Sustain Your Style.

They have very little freedom with what they do and have to work in horrible conditions.

Millions of adults work in unventilated and toxic buildings. Tons of children are forced to work in such conditions as well. Workers are underpaid, work in horrendous conditions and are even abused. We need to take action to help these individuals because it is unacceptable how they are treated, the conditions they have to work in, and how much they get paid. Join local protests and spread the word. You could also support local clothing businesses like thrift stores, Due South (Lafayette), Elanor and Hobbs (Louisville), Savvy on Pearl (Boulder), And even Rags Consignment (Boulder).

— Stella Simonds, seventh grade, Erie

Replacing cottonwoods with concrete is a bad idea

Missing from the Daily Camera report, “Boulder City Council approves major flood mitigation plan,” were comments made by one speaker in particular.

While most spoke against the lack of communication regarding the project or the loss of a habitat corridor, one speaker, Edward Clark, spoke to the plan to widen the creek from 5 feet to 30 feet, necessitating the removal of banks lined with mature cottonwoods providing vital carbon sequestration which removes 10,000 pounds of CO2 from the air or 500,000 pounds since the homes were built. Cottonwoods would be replaced with concrete which could increase the intensity of storms and global warming. He goes on to suggest instead that enlarging the storm water drains under Floral would provide better cost/benefit. Is this not worthy of further consideration?

— Carolyn Usher, Boulder