In Dunblane, England, in 1996, a man who possesses six registered and legally obtained firearms kills 16 elementary school children. The media and public outcry is huge and in 1997, under the pretense of increasing public safety, Tony Blair and his Labor government pass the strictest gun laws of any Western democracy. Pretty much every firearm in British households except grandpa’s old bird gun gets confiscated by the government.

As we look ahead to 2013, we still have the horrors of the Sandy Hook School shooting in Newtown, Conn., in mind.

As a Connecticut Police Officer who has a family owned home in Chamberlain, I would like to commend Wiscasset Police Chief Troy Cline for his professionalism while placing town police officers at public schools (Dec. 14). As we found out here in Connecticut, “it can happen here.” Thank you Chief.

I just learned that the most recent graduating class of law enforcement officers from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy purchased and donated toys for underprivileged children rather than celebrate in a more traditional manner with a party.

I am a teacher. I have had the good fortune to be a teacher for 44 years. I, like everyone else, am saddened by the events of Dec. 14 in Connecticut.

Given the news from Connecticut last Friday, it seems almost disingenuous that we are preparing for our various Christmas celebrations.

In the well-publicized muddle in Washington over the “fiscal cliff,” there is one aspect of the debate that hasn’t received enough attention to my mind.

The holiday season is one defined in different ways by different people. People of different upbringings, social status, and religions each see the various holidays from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day in ways similar to many, but unique to each.

Following an informational meeting on Nov. 15, the Lincoln County Budget Advisory Committee’s work is complete and the county commissioners have until Dec. 17 to approve the budget for fiscal year 2013.

I was appalled by the comment made by the Lincoln County Republican Committee Chairperson Earl Inman in the Nov. 15 edition of the newspaper. (“New landscape for Lincoln County Republicans,” Page 1)

Is it just us or does it seems like these weeks are rushing by with a dizzying speed?

It’s unfortunate this national Election Day falls so late in the month of November that it has seemingly all but overshadowed Veterans’ Day this year.

Veterans’ Day is this coming Sunday, Nov. 11 and it’s a chance to remind all your readers how much we owe to veterans who served, died and those now serving around the world in defense of our country.

Many of us routinely engage in recreational carping about Central Maine Power: service; it’s erratic, costs too much, or, in the case of our neighborhood last summer, they left an ungodly mess behind when cutting and trimming trees that imperiled their power lines.