Exactly who is failing children?

Re “Our failure to protect children

I think the ambiguity of your “mostly, but not all, Republicans” statement smells a little too much like “both sides-ism.” It would be a lot more helpful if you were specific when you cite who is blocking progress on efforts to protect children.

On climate, almost all Democrats in Congress supported serious climate action in the Build Back Better plan. It passed the House, but two Democrats (Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema) and all 50 Republicans in the Senate killed it.

The same thing is true with gun control. The House has passed gun safety bills, but Republicans in the Senate block legislation, and two Democrats refuse to vote to modify the filibuster and make action on guns happen. If we had 52 Democrats in the Senate right now, action on climate change and guns would be a reality.

Republicans clearly oppose government solutions for any and all societal problems. I wish serious newspapers like The Times would call this reality as it is. If only 10 Republicans in the Senate supported climate or gun action, we would have solutions. James Combs

Los Angeles

As a grandparent who is an artist, I occasionally volunteer at my grandson’s school when they have art classes. While volunteering recently, I learned something scary.

There was a school emergency drill and I watched as the teacher locked the door and armed herself with a fire extinguisher, and students quietly ran under their desks, where they remained until the all-clear announcement was made.

Unfortunately, it brought back an all too clear vision of the “duck and cover” that I experienced in the 1950s.

Even though this was in response to the nuclear threats of the Cold War, what I saw in the classroom that day seemed like a repeat performance.

I can just imagine what those poor children were going through in the last school shooting. We can no longer ask “what is the world coming to?” because we have arrived at this dangerous juncture.

Our legislators must do something on gun control. Sherry Marger

Newport Beach

Outstanding editorial. Congratulations and a big thank you.

These things need to be said and repeated again and again.

Jean Lecuyer Los Angeles