Tampa Bay officials respond after ‘teen takeover’ at Curtis Hixon Park | March 15

Twenty-two people were arrested in the recent “teen takeover,” most of them boys under 18. Thirteen were younger than 15 years old — nearly 60%. Yet much of the public discussion afterward focused not on accountability, but on excuses.

We’re told this was caused by socioeconomic conditions, lack of youth programs, lack of jobs, social media, “pack mentality” even described as “normal teen behavior” and “something fun to do” by a pediatric psychologist.

Normal?

Running from police, creating chaos in public spaces, and forcing families and other teens to fear for their safety is not “normal.”

Yes, positive programs, sports, schools, churches, and neighborhoods matter. They can help young people make good choices. Yet programs alone won’t fix a breakdown in parental responsibility and discipline.

A former police chief got it right: Programs are not the real solution. Parents should matter most.

We need fewer excuses and more accountability. Parents need to step up, and communities have to enforce standards rather than tolerate misconduct. Lastly, we should focus on supporting the young people who do make good choices every day.

Steve Cassidy, St. Petersburg

Open carry is over at Florida Publix stores | May 13

The letter writer said he did not shop at Publix for eight months due to the company allowing customers to openly carry firearms in its stores. In the last eight months, I have never seen someone openly carrying a gun in a Publix, and I shop there once or twice a week.

But last Wednesday, we went to Walmart, a company that asked customers not to openly carry guns in its stores. I was going down an aisle, a fellow reached up to the top shelf, and heaven forbid, I saw a gun under his shirt. So people who think a company’s policy on guns will make them safe, better stay away from every store and restaurant.

If you can’t see a gun, it doesn’t mean there isn’t one. You could be standing in line, and the person next to you might be carrying. You just can’t see it.

Kathie Williams, Brooksville

Florida to end international export of manta rays for aquariums | May 13

At the recent May meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission failed to take the final and necessary steps to end the practice of permitted capture of wild, imperiled and threatened marine species for display as exhibits.

While the commissioner moved in the right direction, they failed to fully and permanently protect the wildlife at risk. The commission can and must do better.

The destination of wildlife captured, or extra steps in the permitting process, are small things compared to ending the actual ongoing permitted capture itself.

I imagine its final place of exhibit or the amount of discussion regarding its capture does not matter much to the Giant Manta Ray once it is in the net and torn from the Gulf of Mexico.

Despite public outrage, strong arguments from conservation groups and Florida legislators, and the fact that this practice is no longer sustainable, the commissioners did not act fully and finally in the best interest of wildlife and marine ecosystems.

Our oceans are faced with growing threats from climate change, pollution and coastal habitat loss. This vote occurred as efforts in Washington, D.C., to gut protections for endangered species in the Gulf move forward.

Failing to fully end these captures is another cut among thousands, putting our oceans at further risk.

This vote is another example of why we need more FWC commissioners with a strong background in science, ecology and conservation. Candidates for governor, please take note.

Joe Murphy, Brooksville

A drowsy Florida driver plows over cyclists. Guess who gets blamed? | May 17, Column

As an avid Ironman triathlete and longtime cyclist, I completely agree with Viewpoint Editor Graham Brink’s excellent column about the dangers cyclists (and pedestrians) face on our roads. Too many drivers still do not see cyclists as legitimate users of the roadway with the same rights and protections as motorists. Over the years, I have experienced multiple near misses while riding on public roads. Drivers have honked aggressively, passed dangerously close, and yelled for me to “get off the road” even while I was following all traffic laws. If a cyclist slows traffic even slightly, some drivers respond with anger and intimidation.

Because of those experiences, I now ride almost exclusively on bike trails, although I rode to work for years before retiring, often traveling across the USF Tampa campus to the VA hospital. I wish I had an easy solution. Perhaps stiffer penalties for dangerous driving around cyclists would help. But changing human behavior is much harder. For now, my own solution is simply staying off the roads whenever possible.

David Burg, Tampa

On July 4, the United States will celebrate its 250th birthday. Would it not be a great gift to Americans if, on July 4, all gas stations in the U.S. reduced prices to $2.50 a gallon for America’s families and diesel fuel to $2.50 a gallon for America’s truck drivers?

Robert F. Sawallesh, Valrico

• • •

Submit letters at www.tampabay.com/opinion/submit-letter/. Letters are edited for clarity and length.