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Ren groans in apparent pleasure. “Oh, sweet coffee, I missed you,” they whisper to their mug. I settle back on the bench, watching the birds and listening to the quiet. You would never believe we were in the middle of a town.

“It’s so quiet,” I remark to Ren.

“They’ve got the good tech, kiddo. I’ve only been a few places in Canada but this is pretty much what it’s like now. The cities are more active…maybe.” There’s doubt on their face.

I shiver. I’d rather live in New England than here. This is weird. We see one person walk by wearing the same e-glasses as the person in the shop. They gesture in the air with both hands and I shake my head.

“At least there’s coffee,” I muse.

Ren sighs and points to my phone.

“Let’s get you started on this thing, okay? Here, I’ll show you how it works.”

BALTIMORE SUNREADERS RESPOND

MARCH 6, 2018

Johns Hopkins University wants to make a private police force for their campus. (“Johns Hopkins University pushing bill to create its own police force in Baltimore”). I do not work for the university, nor do I live in the neighborhood, but I listen to the voices of those who will be affected and I hear a great deal of concern.

The university believes their private police will keep their community safer. Those of us in the general public wonder who is being protected from whom. The residents of Baltimore ask Hopkins to put its efforts toward making theentirecommunity safer. They can do this by supporting the peace movement led by Mothers Against Violence.

Because the public has so little control over private police, Mothers Against Violence is supporting the Update to Gun Licensing bill in the Maryland legislature this spring.

Whether it’s public police, private police, or private security, every person who carries a gun should have to complete strict training. Our state requires nearly 100 hours of classes and practice to get a driver’s license, but the gun safety course is only 16 hours. Guns are just as dangerous as cars, and our bill will bring new standards for getting and keeping a license to buy or carry a gun in Maryland.

Join members of MAV this weekend in Annapolis to make it harder, not easier, to carry guns in our community. If Hopkins moves forward to create a private police force, theirofficers would be subject to the new standards of training and conduct. Gather and show your support for HB368 on Saturday at noon in front of the Maryland Statehouse. Get the details at MarylandMAV.com.

Sincerely,

Mikayla Adamson

Mothers Against Violence