Sep 24, 2025 2 min read

I want to thank Durk Pebley for his Sept. 16 letter about adopting a nonviolent lifestyle. I too adopted this way of life as a teen, over 50 years ago, and I can honestly say it has done nothing but enrich my life. It’s really not that hard.

To anyone who would like more information about this approach to life, I suggest an organization called Nonviolent Peaceforce. On their website they provide tools to help de-escalate and respond to conflict. This wonderful group works around the world to help build peace, and their techniques work.

Another thing about the nonviolent lifestyle is that it costs our society nothing. The paralyzing fear of mass shootings has forced schools and other public buildings to install expensive security systems and hire guards instead of teachers. The vast increase in firearms over the last 25 or so years has come at a huge price to our society, both financially and emotionally.

I also appreciated the thoughtful essay by Dave Ball in Sunday’s paper. He offers many excellent suggestions, including the enforcement of “Red Flag” laws and requiring secure storage of firearms. Stronger penalties for illegal trafficking in guns would go a long way to helping cities reduce violence.

I fear that gun violence has become normalized in our society, so for many it is the first choice they think of to resolve a conflict. It used to be that fistfights were a common way to work out problems; while unpleasant, people usually walked away afterward without serious injury. Now they pull out guns. I hope we can break through this mindset. Nonviolence works.

John Bogaard

Houston