I can’t get the better in last week’s Phoenix — God decides gender, no one else — out of my head. I feel like the Bristol Warren Regional School Committee is more in line with what God would want for our children than what this letter recommends. Despite their obligation to abide by separation of church and state laws, our school committee chose to do what is right. They chose not to judge. They chose respect. They chose love.

Tim Sweeney and Andy Tyska, you must be kidding. A sanctuary town? We did not elect you to speak for all Bristolians. You want to jeopardize our safety for illegal, undocumented immigrants. If we become a sanctuary town, Bristol will become a safe haven for criminals, illegals. Many have committed heinous crime against innocent Americans, such as murders, rapes, and robberies. Not to mention the illegal drugs that come across our country by illegal, undocumented immigrants. You will be putting the people of Bristol in harm’s way. Remember a woman who was murdered in a sanctuary city in California by an illegal, undocumented immigrant. He was deported five times for six different crimes, but was allowed to come back every time to America to stay in a sanctuary city without any criminal record. Do you want this to happen to Bristol, to be a safe haven for criminal? We must not allow immigrants to come to our country illegally. We must want them to come to our country as good christians, in the legal way, for the safety of every American citizen.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Neither Councilman Tim Sweeney nor Andy Tyska voted to declare Bristol a sanctuary town.

As we approach the Fourth of July, the Police Department should enforce that lighting fireworks independently in a residential area is against the law, and the law should be enforced. I question why the police have not taken action on these people, specifically thew area of Kickemuit, Chestnut Street, Sowams Road. Is it the law or not? For the police to turn the other cheek makes them as guilty as the people lighting off these fireworks. To those who light illegal fireworks, think of the other tax payers in Bristol, and not just yourself. Leave the fireworks to the professionals because if you don’t, someone or something is going to pay a high price, whether it is damage to property or maiming someone. Please, smarten up.