Director's Take

Let’s Talk

06-05-2026

Dear Friend of Downtown,

I was in southeastern Kentucky last week, taking a look at some recreational opportunities, and I learned some history about old mountain living that sounded really familiar to me, relative to our more urban setting.
 
There were factions of families that fought each other, probably for a real reason once upon a time, but that became simply principle based on name. Lots of people died, people settling arguments with guns and basing their anger and blame on years of assumptions and retaliation.
 
Urban areas have similar stories and sadly, people die unnecessarily because we don’t know how to share our feelings and talk about the real issues, and I submit, because guns are way too readily available.
 
There is an epidemic of gun violence with stories about shootings and deaths in our news on an almost daily basis. I do not have the solution, but I do think it’s plain to see that without red flag laws, waiting periods, bans on automatic rifles, or harsher sentences for crimes committed with stolen guns, we should not expect to see much change.
 
I for one do want change, and I want us to experience healthy community as the social beings we are who need it. If you agree, let’s keep talking about it. Maybe some people who can do something about it will hear.