Letters and Op-Eds

Letters to the Editor: Secure our freedoms

Letters to the Editor: Secure our freedoms

Three hundred and fifty-four years ago, a young man was imprisoned in the Tower of London. There, he wrote passionate pamphlets about his faith that quickly spread across the country despite efforts by the British monarchy. That man was William Penn, who was at that...

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Guest column: Our communities deserve action on firearms

Guest column: Our communities deserve action on firearms

June is observed as Gun Violence Awareness Month, a time when we commemorate the lives lost to gun violence across the country and in our communities. Now more than ever, it is critical that we acknowledge the impact gun violence has on our communities and the...

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Investing in the Future is Not Radical Environmentalism

Investing in the Future is Not Radical Environmentalism

Op-ed by Senator Amanda Cappelletti 

With the recent rise of oil and gas prices, we have heard a lot about how Pennsylvania should be an energy leader. We can be. We should be. And it should be clean energy – a move that increases job opportunities, economic development, and places us at the forefront of addressing the climate crisis.

Report after report illustrates the dire state of our environment. This year’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report made it clear – we must act now to avoid the very worst impacts of climate change.

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Letter: Proposed measures would help curb gun violence

Letter: Proposed measures would help curb gun violence

On Dec. 14, we sadly commemorated the 10-year anniversary of the shooting at Sandy Hook that took the lives of 20 children and six adults. In the decade since that tragedy, we have not made nearly enough progress to stop firearm violence. Ending gun and firearm...

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Letter: State legislators ask support for agenda in Congress

Letter: State legislators ask support for agenda in Congress

It's our responsibility to ensure our federal partners in Washington hear the voices of our shared constituents. As we serve our respective communities, we see up close and personal the persistent challenges that they face every day, most of which are addressed in the...

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Protecting the People Who Protect Pennsylvania

Protecting the People Who Protect Pennsylvania

Op-ed by Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti

There’s a common perception that first responders – police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and veterans are tough. We see first responders as thoroughly trained experts, ready to handle a multitude of high stakes, stressful scenarios. In a similar vein, we perceive veterans as strong, selfless individuals who can handle extreme situations with discipline and fearlessness. In many instances these generalizations can be true, but I think they rarely tell the whole story.

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