Letter: Gun violence not a citywide issue

Regarding the April 25 guest column by Carletta Knox-Seymour 'Violence is a public health issue”:

I must disagree with this writer's assessment of the (gun) violence in Cedar Rapids.

Gun violence in Cedar Rapids is not a citywide issue as she wants to make it. The violence is mainly concentrated in only one area of our city - the southeast side. Don't try to spread the blame around and imply that we, the community, should shoulder some responsibility to fix your problems!

The folks from the Stoney Point or Bowman Woods area are not going to get involved with your problems. This problem belongs to only one area and to only one group of people.

Violence is not a disease. Why does she want to bring in the CDC?! The CDC deals with organic diseases.

Some kids rise up out of the cycle of poverty and crime because they choose another path. They choose to live a fruitful and productive life instead of one of crime and violence despite all the challenges life offers us.

Men have killed men from the dawn of time. It has never changed and will never end.

The writer suggested that a ‘deeper study' is needed to determine the root of the problem. When was a deeper study ever needed to determine bad behavior?

These kids will continue to make all the wrong decisions and pay the price until the parents take their rightful position in teaching them how to make the right choices in life to succeed.

Evan Vulich

Cedar Rapids