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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Woman beaten for not bringing home In-N-Out burgers ... Air travel in Medford sets record for 13th month straight ... Ashland police join Medford in carrying life-saving Narcan kits ... Woman beaten for not bringing home In-N-Out burgers ... Air travel in Medford sets record for 13th month straight ... Ashland police join Medford in carrying life-saving Narcan kits ... LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the Editor, Oct. 9 Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Oct. 9, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Oct. 9, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Lockdown alarms for schools In the aftermath of the UCC tragedy, we should put panic buttons in our schools to warn staff and students of active shooters. According to Newsweek, the massacre in Roseburg was the 45th school shooting this year. Despite the infrequency of school fires, we already require schools to have switches and alarms for fires — after all, alerting our students to danger as quickly as possible is key to saving their lives. We should equip our schools with fire-alarm-like systems for serious emergencies, like an active shooter situation. These lockdown alarms could be activated from pull stations located throughout the school. They could be distinguished from red fire-alarm switches by labeling, different coloring, and a transparent and easy-to-remove safety covering. Once a switch is activated, these alarms could inform everyone of danger with flashing lights and a loudspeaker message declaring that there is likely a serious emergency and to prepare to flee or shelter in place. The alarms could also automatically call 911 when pulled, just like fire alarms currently do. Lockdown alarms are a sensible, uncontroversial, nonpartisan and easily implemented safeguard during this epidemic of school shootings. Garrett West Medford Thanks for kindness Thank you to those wonderful folks in downtown Ashland that came to the rescue when my 89-year-old aunt tripped on the curb and hurt herself on Aug. 23. Your caring gestures, help with getting an ambulance and asking all of the right questions, guidance, and giving of yourselves and your time are ever so appreciated. It made all the difference. My aunt received several facial stitches and spent the night at ACH but is healing up wonderfully. I was moved by the sense of community and acts of sincere kindness. You are each a beautiful blessing! A big thanks also to the staff at ACH — they really were wonderful as well. Carol Wedman Medford Double standard It happened again. I felt the ire from the double standard turn into total anger! I was at the West Medford Albertson’s gas station and I needed to exit and go left. To do this, I would have to jog right, get into the middle lane, make a left into the West Main Pharmacy/Thunderbird parking lot, drive through traffic in the parking lot, then make a right onto West Main at Taco Bell. My other choice was to drive through the entire Albertsons parking lot, go over all the speed bumps (It was 3:45 and really busy) and come out at Lozier Lane. Waiting to exit the gas station, a police car came from my left. It drove by, obviously not in a hurry. He came to the highway, made a two-second stop, then turned left. Previously, I’ve seen both city police and sheriffs disregard the "no left turn" sign. Why did I feel so angry? I know people that have gotten a ticket for doing what the police were doing. Why can’t they just make it a normal exit like so many others in the same configuration? In many ways, it would actually be safer! Lorna Erskine Jacksonville Guns and more guns One of the definitions of a gun is a metal object with a projectile used to kill or injure someone or something. That is a pretty broad description, but it covers my point. The recent apparent indiscriminate use of a firearm for the specific purpose of killing another innocent human being has to stop. Curtailing the ease to purchase firearms must be controlled for the benefit of us all. May we learn from other “civilized” countries the methods used to reduce the ability with which most anyone may purchase a deadly weapon. Pat Parsons Medford MailTribune.com Writer Posted Oct. 9, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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