Letters to the Editor, Week of Oct. 9

Random Act of Kindness

My husband Tom and I went to Pizza Mondo for dinner this past Saturday. Tom was wearing his army military cap. A fellow Bendite, Michael and his wife, were just finishing their pizza. They thanked my husband Tom for his military service, graciously offered us their table and generously paid for our dinner! With all the current events of disrespect and disregard for our National Guard, our Military, and our fellow mankind, this random act of kindness from complete strangers brought humble and grateful tears to our eyes. Thank you kindly again Michael! We look forward to paying it forward and have great hope that common respect and kindness for one another will prevail.

—Denise Chavira

Get Serious About Gun Control

Eliminate guns. Guns are used to intimidate, maim, or kill either deliberately or accidentally. Guns do not serve the COMMON GOOD and are unacceptable in a decent society.

Create a buyback program such as the one enacted in Australia.

Implement financial consequences for failure to comply with a buyback program such as fines, garnishment of wages, freezing bank assets and house arrest.

Revoke the charters of corporations or businesses failing to meet the COMMON GOOD as required by state charters. Guns and weapons do not serve the COMMON GOOD.

Create and implement laws to prohibit the manufacture and sale of guns and weapons for domestic and international use.

Abolish the NRA.

Eliminate possession and use of guns and weapons by the police state. Issue guns and bullets to the National Guard to be checked in and out daily.

Revoke the Second Amendment which was enacted to permit southern slave owners to control and kill slaves. Entrust the National Guard, not unaccountable militias for protecting the COMMON GOOD.

–Sue Bastian, Privileged White Person

Re: The Show Must Go On…Somewhere Else (Sept. 26 Issue)

Our City Council and Deschutes County must take the lead on this issue. Bend-La Pine Schools struggle to provide adequate space, yet dozens of community organizations urgently need a dedicated performing arts facility and the BLPS process is extremely frustrating. Instead of directing millions toward a pedestrian bridge, tax deferments for savvy developers, or low barrier shelter projects that are not addressing the root cause of homelessness, we should prioritize an investment that directly benefits residents, fosters creativity and strengthens community ties.

A performing arts space would meet a critical local need while generating lasting cultural and economic returns. Visit Bend and Visit Central Oregon should also be key partners, given the arts’ proven role in tourism and community vitality.

This is a real opportunity for our city and county to collaborate, think long-term, and invest in a project that truly elevates Bend’s future.

—Nicole Moore Perullo

Letter of the Week:

Thank you Nicole. As letter of the week, you can stop by the Source office to pick up a gift card to Palate coffee. — Nic Moye, Managing Editor

This article appears in the Source October 9, 2025.