Regarding the decision to allow concealed carry of firearms in county buildings, the primary question should be, or should have been, will this make those buildings more safe or less safe? Personally I feel it would be less safe.
For those citing Second Amendment rights as reason enough for this ruling, the Second Amendment does not preclude reasonable gun laws. Obtaining a concealed carry permit does not, of course, guarantee that person will not have the potential to commit a crime, make an irrational decision or overreact.
According to the Violence Policy Center, from May 2007 to present there were 493 crime-related incidents (not in self defense) resulting in 659 deaths in 36 states and the District of Columbia committed by concealed handgun permit holders. These crimes include shooting an ex-husband, shooting a police officer, shooting a friend during an argument and wounding a child, mass shootings, shooting a spouse, etc.
This is not to condemn competent people with concealed carry permits. The ones reflected in these statistics are actually a small percentage of the whole. However, openly allowing guns to be brought into any public place is a decision that should be given serious consideration based on safety, not personal politics.
— Barry Stokes
Salisbury

Rowan County commissioners voted to remove the “No Firearms Allowed” on county buildings, land and parks. By doing this, they removed “Gun Free Zones” targeted by criminals who like to attack unarmed citizens where they know the citizens have no protection or help will arrive only after the crime is finished. We can now be prepared to protect ourselves if the need arises in county areas. A policeman cannot protect you unless he is there with you when the crime is committed. You will have protection when you are carrying a concealed firearm and are willing and trained to use it to defend yourself or a third party.
The foolish Democrats will continue to push for gun control until they finally think they have won. Disarming the law-abiding citizen only aids the criminal and does not disarm any criminals. Gun control is not about controlling guns; it is all about controlling people.
Tyrannical governments can only trample good citizens when they have no means of protection.
Will we have mass murders in the future? Sure we will. Since the Garden of Eden, when Satan deceived Eve with the apple, mankind has been born with evil distilled in their minds. Evil will raise its ugly head again and again to harm those without any protection. Our schools are extremely vulnerable to attacks because they are still “Gun Free Zones,” where there is not enough trained and armed protection for our children. This must change.
When man losses his good judgment, evil arises, and he decides to go mad, killing innocent persons. We need to be ready to protect ourselves.
Thanks again to the commissioners for helping make Rowan County a little safer for our families.
— Steve Karriker
Salisbury

I realize that at $10+ per square foot the county’s purchase of the mall looks to be a great bargain. But the building was designed to last 30 years and was built 25 years ago. To any real estate speculator, that smells of a money pit that will pull lots of taxpayer money out of the general income of this county.
Another issue that has not been covered is the idea of putting all the Rowan County School Board people in either the Belk or J.C. Penny part of the building. The current air conditioning for either part was designed for handling fewer than 100 people in those parts of the mall at a time. If the school board ends up going in there, you are looking at hundreds of workers in there for eight hours a day, plus the heat generated by the same numbers of computers (average 350 watts each). That will require a major upgrade in the air-conditioning and heating system for just that section of the building alone. Are we ready to commit another $3 to $4 million to that in the next four years? I think not.
— Julian A. Torrey
Salisbury

The writer is referring to a story published on Aug. 27, “Motorcyclist injured in three-vehicle Mooresville Road crash.”
To all motorists: A witness said the motorcyclist had been speeding. The speed limit is 45-55 mph on that highway. Vehicles traveling straight have the right of way. Motorists turning left into oncoming traffic by law are supposed to yield the right of way. Had it been a semi or school bus, would the other driver still have turned? Pray for the motorcyclist, and please watch for motorcycles. Next time you make a left turn across a lane of travel, please look to see if anyone is coming.
— Larry Craver
Salisbury

In the Aug. 25 Salisbury Post there was an article about the tattoo museum in Winston-Salem. There is a photo of Doc Forbes with a young man in a sailor cap. I would like to know if anyone knows the identity of the sailor. He looks like he could be David Kesler, who was killed in one of the infamous car crashes on Long Street in the mid-1960s. The Salisbury Post wrote several articles about the crashes at that time.
— Frank Stiller
Salisbury

Recently I saw a sign near for a business that had “Isis” in its name.
Today, the word “ISIS” is offensive to me as an American. If the owner of the business is an American, please change the sign. The word “Isis” can also be other things like Isis the goddess, but today ISIS has threatened war on the United States and includes barbaric killers of men, women and children. The beheading of one of our own, an American journalist, was available for the whole world to see.
People may say, “Oh, this is OK, this is America. People have rights.” Well, I have rights, too. Should I call the ACLU? The ACLU got rid of the nativity scenes on courthouse lawns (which I do not like), but maybe they can get this sign down.
— Priscilla McKnight
China Grove

There’s an urgent and dangerous threat to our vulnerable school children.
Tens of thousands of illegal aliens have breached our southern border with potentially communicable diseases.
This invasion is an extremely important concern because these youngsters are not immunized against communicable diseases. Smallpox, tuberculosis and poliomyelitis, for example, have been under control for decades due to immunizations, which are requirements to enter our schools.
Governors, school and public health officials cannot allow this potential disaster to happen. Verifiable and legitimate health documents must be demanded to help prevent our students from being exposed to disease. As a teacher I am fearful; the word “epidemic” comes to mind.
Strict and constant vigilance should be the standard. There should be no admittance until complete proof of health safeguards. Not one instance of contact with our school population until such time.
— Jacquelyn Wilson
Whispering Pines

“Quality is defined at the point of interaction between the staff member and the individual with a disability.” — John F. Kennedy Jr. (1996)
This week, beginning Sept. 7, has been designated by the U.S. Senate as the seventh annual “National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week.” Direct support professionals (DSP) provide essential daily support to enable people with disabilities and their families to live healthy, community-inclusive lives.
Working tirelessly, these compassionate supporters of those with disabilities bring us all closer to seeing the promises of the Americans with Disabilities Act realized. DSPs provide a wide array of services including domestic duties, maintaining schedules and appointments, and assisting with recreational activities, allowing the individual with disabilities to stay connected to and to live productive lives within our community.
Gov. Pat McCrory has also signed a proclamation declaring this week as “Direct Support Professionals Week” to recognize these dedicated workers who, by building close and trusted relationships, care and provide essential support to help keep individuals with disabilities living productive lives.
As part of the Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week celebration, we are calling attention to and honoring these dedicated and skilled workers for their service to people with disabilities and to the community.
— Chris Egan
Raleigh
Egan is executive director of the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities.

It appears that our nation is becoming a lawless country in our world. Many people are becoming Godless and lawless in their behavior toward one another.
God created the world, His world, and all that is in it and its people. God gave us laws through Moses and the commandments, all to honor God and give us as his children an opportunity to honor our life.
We seem to be in denial about what is evident. God, I pray, got our attention with 9/11. We filled the churches and filled our hearts with fear for what else could come and with love for one another. Praise God, we survived. But as we survived we slowly returned to our old ways of taking life for granted, believing this could not happen again.
We need leadership that can help create once again a nation of trust in God, trust in each other, integrity, transparency, replacing the values of today — the need for power, greed and personal agendas. This is without a doubt a huge threat to our country’s safety, freedoms and life.
Freedom for what? To play games, plotting against each other. We have become a weakened nation set up for our enemies from all directions.
I do realize that we do have good people with good hearts, good leaders who work hard, volunteer their time and resources to help work our way with faith in God through our prayers and actions. We can help restore trust, love, peace, liberty and freedoms we once enjoyed.
We must get our heads out of the sand, open our spiritual hearts and eyes to all that is taking place in our homes, community, state, country and world, and all that affects us personally.
The will of God will not take us where his grace will not protect us. As Mother Teresa said, “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.”
— Carol Cauble
Salisbury

I have two issues to address.
No. 1: I have called the people in charge of roads in Rowan County. They must be very busy because they have not returned my call. It’s only been a month. Perhaps they are checking Barber Junction Road in Cleveland. So far, I’ve had a blowout, and a neighbor has messed up her front-wheel drive.
No. 2: I’m sure we are all tired of hearing about the border problems — drugs, smuggling, our border patrol officers putting their lives on the line every day. I have a solution. Make Mexico our 51st state. Send in the National Guard, clear out the cartels, teach English. They manufacture all kinds of products — cars, trucks, clothes, etc. They can pay taxes. That way people can stay where they are, get all the liberal free stuff and not have to travel back and forth.
— Michael Zimmerman
Cleveland

My blond male lab ran into the woods on Aug. 15. He never came back out. We searched the woods many times. We put up fliers. I told all the neighbors. I told all my friends. Days passed; my dog was gone.
My friend Donald told me to put a lost dog ad in the Salisbury Post. I had not thought of that.
My lost ad came out in the Post on Friday, Aug. 22. That night a lady called and said, “We have your dog.” I said, “This is amazing!.” I picked him up Saturday morning.
Thank you, Crystal Goodman, for reading the Salisbury Post and calling to tell me you had my dog, Lingle. Thank you, John Goodman, for going deep into the woods to check out the whining noise you heard, finding my dog lost and scared and bringing him to your home. We were searching the wrong woods.
A very special thank you to a beautiful 11-year-old girl, Kennedy Goodman. She took wonderful care of my dog. She played with him every day and gave him a blanket to lie on. I know Lingle fell in love with Kennedy.
Thank you, Goodman Family. Thank you, Salisbury Post. Your lost section is working. Lingle is home.
— Bonnie Sechler
Salisbury

I want to thank the Salisbury Post for the police report, letting us know who does what. The police have a hard time; they never know whom they are pulling over. They work with a lot of scumbags.
The Post disappoints me by putting an article in the paper about the two lesbians (which I did not read). God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.
— Catherine Sommers
Kannapolis