Letters to the Editor | March 25, 2025

Nick Elizalde, my grandson, was shot and killed at his high school football game on Sept. 27, 2022. Now, Delaware County Council is poised to ban ghost guns and machine gun converters. Be bold, council. While the Pennsylvania Senate, under the leadership of Kim Ward and Lisa Baker, refuses to call a vote on commonsense gun safety bills passed by the House in 2023, the Trump administration closes the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention and scrubs the firearm violence advisory from the internet, the U.S. Supreme Court considers a case to strike down federal regulations on ghost gun kits, and Congress introduces national permitless concealed carry, this is your opportunity to show the courage the others lack. Be the first county in Pennsylvania to enact such a ban. Lead by example. My grandson’s a Delco boy. One of you. It’s too late to save Nick. Please, council, act now to save others.

Marge LaRue, Aston, laruehouse@verizon.net

There is something very wrong with our current government leadership if someone who vandalizes a Tesla is labeled a domestic terrorist, but someone who attacks federal law enforcement officers and the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to overthrow a legitimate election is labeled a patriot and pardoned by the president.

Julio Casiano Jr., Philadelphia

Isn’t it ironic that the Republican outrage machine went into high gear over a deer’s detainment and removal from its adopted human family, and its subsequent return to its natural environment? Yet they exhibit no concern whatsoever and, in fact, encourage and applaud the family separation, detainment, and deportation of their fellow humans with no due process. What a sad commentary on the MAGA state of mind.

Steven Bell, Haverford

Congratulations, Birds, on a well-earned NFL championship. Many have suggested that team members might again boycott a White House event to show opposition to the petty nastiness of the many insults by the current administration, such as removing Black, Latino, Native American, and other heroes from the Pentagon and other agencies’ websites. I have a better suggestion: Go. And wear team jerseys with Jackie Robinson’s No. 42 on the back.

Seth Asser, San Diego

On March 11, more than a dozen U.S. representatives signed an open letter demanding Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem instruct U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to release Mahmoud Khalil, a permanent resident detained for his activism. Our Congress member, Dwight Evans, wasn’t one of them. Rep. Evans has been in office since 2016 and easily coasts to reelection every two years. You would think someone this safe in their position would utilize that privilege. Sadly, Evans isn’t that kind of politician. I know this from experience. In the months after Israel began its genocide in Gaza, I contacted Evans daily for more than 100 days so he could hear from a Jewish constituent who thought differently than the Jewish Federation and others with similar interests. I visited his office twice, called regularly, and emailed him every day. Would you believe I never even received a form letter in return? Philadelphia, we deserve better. We deserve real representation.

Jay Shifman, Philadelphia

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