Could it be the guns?

At least 18 dead in Maine shooting, dozens injured, authorities say | Oct. 26

Another mass shooting, and I’m sure we will hear the same tired arguments. It’s not the gun, it’s the person. We need more mental health services, we need more guns to make it safer, etc. Just remember that other nations’ citizens also have mental problems, troubled home lives and pretty much all the same other issues we have, so why are mass shootings so rare elsewhere? The difference is the amount of guns and the ease of obtaining one here.

John Skey, Bradenton

Good police work

Thank you, Clearwater police

Our entire family wants to express our deep appreciation for the effective response of the Clearwater Police Department. Last month, we became aware that an older family member (a Clearwater resident for more than 35 years) was being defrauded. Several members of our family flew in from out of state to address the situation. They first stopped in at the police station just to see if they might make a report of some kind. The response was more than we could have imagined. The Clearwater police immediately stepped in and helped to manage an incredibly difficult situation. They were proactive and helpful at every stage, allowing us to focus our energy on comforting and taking care of our family member. We will always be grateful for their exceptional handling of this challenging situation.

The Adams family (Dave, Bill, Susan and Todd Adams), Jill Malouf, Nancy Kassam-Adams, Sara Aierstuck, Mark Adams and Cathy Meaney, Lovingston, Virginia

Insurance? No, football

Florida CFO threatens to sue NCAA over FSU football player’s eligibility | Oct. 25

Is Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis finally fixing the state’s broken insurance market? No. Instead, he is making sure that a good football player is able to play for his alma mater, Florida State. It is not even within his duties as a public official, but because he has apparently been so effective at taking care of the insurance markets, he has moved on to making sure his favorite program in higher education, sea-level research — oh, no, wait, football — is operating at its full potential. If you get a letter notifying you that you’ve been kicked off your insurance policy despite having paid a king’s ransom to your insurer, just think about how our CFO used his office’s power to help the Seminoles compete for a national championship. Praise be.

Brad Rosenheim, St. Petersburg