Awaiting more answers of substance on gun violence

I would like to commend Josh Bergeron for his informative column (in Sunday’s Post)  regarding having more meaningful communication on guns.

As a registered Republican, I was disappointed that the only response of substance that Mr. Bergeron received back from the four U.S. representatives surveyed was from Rep. Alma Adams, a Democrat. Ms. Adams made an effort to offer some concrete ideas for consideration to address excess gun violence in the U.S., while the three Republicans could only come up with the right wing/gun lobby diversion tactic of shifting focus to the mental health system.

Rep.  Hudson uses the term “knee jerk reaction,” a term that has frequently been used in the past by representatives on the right after mass shooting tragedies to avoid concrete discussion on addressing the problem. I would like to ask Mr. Hudson how long does a problem of this magnitude have to go on before serious efforts to make positive changes are not considered knee jerk —  five years, 10 years, 20 years or more?

— Barry Stokes

Salisbury

Band teaches students a lot

As the end of the 2015 marching band season draws to an end, a maelstrom of conflicting emotions is swirling around inside me. Let me see if I can calm the storm a bit and distill from the emotional quagmire a few of the good feelings.

The past three years have been some the most rewarding years of my life. It’s been tough, tiring and stressful at times, but after each band camp, after each game, after each competition, and after each parade I felt I had accomplished something meaningful and worthwhile.

The importance of music cannot be overstated. Studies have shown that students that participate in music, whether it is the choir or the band, typically perform at a higher level than the rest of the student body. Music teaches students to think, act, and solve creatively, how to be more spatially aware, how to handle mistakes, and builds a teamwork mentality and discipline.

I don’t know what the future holds, but I know my daughter and the other young adults in the West Rowan Marching Band, under the direction of Daniel Trivette, will not only survive in life, but thrive. And I am glad that I was able to help foster that in a small way.

— Jason McDonnell

Salisbury

The writer is treasurer for the West Rowan High School Band Boosters. His daughter, Caitlyn, is the drum major for the marching band.