Federal, local events give rise to gun control issue
BvKENFULTON
BY KIM PULSON
Kansan Staff Reporter
The controversy about gun control ignited again with an attempt to have hand gun ammunition declared a "hazardous substance" by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The commission didn't consider restricting hand gun ammunition until a court order last week forced it to do so.
Several shooting deaths in the three months in the Lawrence area have caused local discussions
David Berkowitz, Douglas County Attorney, said last week that there was a problem with "Saturday Night Specials," which are used in robberies and shooting.
The "Saturday Night Special" is a small caliber pistol with a two or three inch barrel. It can be purchased easily from a store or street dealer for less than $60.
Berkowitz said that over 50 per cent of the shootings in Douglas County involved persons who knew each other and that hand guns were the most common weapon. He said that small caliber guns, such as the 22 and 25, were common, but that the 38 was becoming common also.
"It would be helpful to have more legislation," Berkowitz said. "There is very little my office can do because there are few state regulations in this area."
He said the only existing state regulations restricted persons from carrying a concealed weapon and restricted felons from owning a gun with a firearm, but not felons who fled during an ordinance less than five years.
He said it would be easier to get convictions for some criminals by guning if the possession of the weapon was allowed.
According to Title VII of the 1968 Federal Gun Control Act, a person convicted of a felony, dishonorably discharged from the armed services, judged mentally incompetent, who renounced his citizenship or is an illegal alien can't receive or possess a firearm.
A firearm is defined by the Alcohol, Tobacco and
Ammunition laws. It has a frame that can be campered up to a firearm.
Bill Reins, special agent in Kansas for the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Division of the Treasury Department, disagreed with Berkowitz's comments about "Saturday Night Specials."
Reints said he didn't think "Saturday Night
Specials" were more common in shootings than other weapons. The biggest problem was with shotguns, he said, because they were more commonly kept around the house.
There isn't a need for more gun control laws,
there's a need for more persons to enforce
the existing laws.
According to state representation Mike Glover, D. State uses the gun control issue is dormant in the state legislation.
Glover said he didn't see any move towards gun control legislation this session, and to his knowledge no such legislation had come before either the Kansas House or Senate.
The only talk he'd heard from law enforcement officials about gun control was frivolous, Glover said, but it was his opinion that they didn't want gun control legislation.
Gene Schroer, president of the Kansas Trial Lawyers, said his organization was considering backing legislation that would give gun dealers more responsibility for firearms abuse.
The lawyers' association wanted to encourage a law that would hold the gun dealer liable for his assault.
The point of the legislation is to make gun dealers more careful when selling guns, he said.
a gun without meeting all sale requirements, Schrorer said.
Schrerer said the problems in Kansas were different than those in New York or Chicago. Criminals in these areas don't buy guns from underground firearms manufacturers, but from underground firearms manufacturers.
He admitted that hand guns were a problem, but that considerably more factors were involved.
United Drift Force, said that the problem behind gun control was alcohol, since a substantial number of drunk drivers are killed.
Chet Whitebread, manager of Wilson's Supply and Service in Lawrence, agreed with Rehna that a marketing campaign for the company should be
"What we really need to do is to enforce the laws that we already have," he said.
"It's a sport I've always enjoyed. I’ve owned over 200 firearms and have ever caused an accident
Criminals aren't worried about existing gun laws, Whitebread said, so they wouldn't worry about another law. Gun control would abide the rights of Americans and criminals because they already ignore the existing gun laws.
Whitebread said gun dealers were opposed to the people who sold cheap hand guns.
"This guy is against me or more than any gun letter," he said. "This guy is only out for a dollar."
Whitebread said he was opposed to gun licenses because the fire discriminated against gun owners.
because the fee discriminated against gun owners. One of the methods proposed for determining a "Saturday Night Special" was a heat test, which would demonstrate the quality of the gun metal.
Whitebread opposed this test because he said it would eliminate good firearms such as the Smith and Wesson Chief Special Airweight, which retails for more than $100.
He suggested that if a gun needed repairs, stealing more than the police before it fired was too much, and using old wooded chapels as ammunition.
Whitebread strongly objected to the plan to make gun dealers liable for the misuse of firearms.
KANSAN
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
The University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas
Vol. 85-No.92 Monday, February 17,1975
KUAC to get a second look
BY JOHN JOHNSTON Kansan Staff Reporter
The chancellor's office has agreed to study the relationship of the athletic board to the University of Kansas Athletic Corporation (KUAC).
Shankel said Sunday that the meeting was productive. He said he thought it was necessary to arrive at a more complete definition of the athletic board and the role of the athletic director in relation to the board.
The agreement resulted from a meeting Friday between John Beinser, former student body president, Chancellor Archie R. Dykes and Del Shankel, executive vice chancellor. Beinser presented an outline of suggestions on how to improve the working relationship between the athletic board, KUAC and the athletic director.
"All of us believe Mr. Walker is willing to work within the structure of the athletic board, but there is some confusion as to what the board's role really is," Shankel said. "I believe we can clear up this confusion."
The chancellor's office would then make a statement on the role of the athletic board, Beisner said. A study would be made of the board's participation in forming the athletic committee, which is necessary for making a policy statement regarding athletic goals at KU, he said.
Beisern said he was satisfied with the results of the meeting. He said the chancellor told him that instead of reconvening the committee that originally studied the board last fall, he might conduct a more personal survey of board members.
One of Beisner's suggestions was that an executive board be created for KUAC. This board would have to be consulted before decisions were made in specified areas.
Included in the list of specified areas was the hiring and firing of personnel.
By Staff Photographer ROD MIKINSKI
Wayne Osmess, professor of physical education and a member of the athletic board, said he thought everyone on the team must better definition of its role in policy making.
Thomas Weiss, associate professor of economics and a member of the board, agreed that a better definition of the board's role was needed. However, the board doesn't necessarily have to be involved in the day to day activities of the athletic department, including the hiring and firing of personnel, he said.
Downhill chaser
Onessa said that the athletic board was needed for making policy decisions, but that individuals within the athletic department are valued for leadership and decision making.
frigid showers combined with snow turned the slope north of the Campanile into an over her as she abandon herself to the speed and fun the weather has brought her. See instant winter playground for these two friends. This little girl's "best friend" watches weather story page 3.
Charter flight firm may be illegal
By DEBBIE GUMP Kansan Staff Reporter
A student charter flight business based in Nebraska and which advertised in the Kansas last week is operating without a pilot. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
The business, which uses a University of
Rolfs begins presidency
The Consumer Protection Association in Lawrence has received a warning about Liberman from officials at the University of Nebraska, Carol Boone, association
the ad to regional district offices which would warn Liberman that what he was doing was against FAA regulations. If Liberman has already made a flight, Morris said, the FAA's compliance and security division will take action.
Rv DON SMITH
Now that the campaign, vote tally and victory celebration are history, Ed Rollos, newly elected student body president, and Friday to organize his administration.
Bbone said SUA had called the University of Nebraska at Omaha's Student Center to check on Liberman and was told that the university had received several complaints
By DON SMITH
Kansan Staff Reporter
Rufs said that he and his running mate, Mary Lou Reece, Scandia sophomore, would be receiving committee applications for appointments in the next three to four weeks.
"The first thing we're going to do is set up our administration, and then we plan to convene a meeting of the Student Senate by Feb. 27." Rofs said.
about him. The center advised SUA not to deal with him. Boone said.
Rick David, program director at the Student Center, said university officials were attempting to liberate Liberman's post as part of disciplinary actions against him.
The flight business isn't university-sponsored, David said, even though Lberman is using a university post office address. But it's not true that the university stationery without authorization.
Rolfs said that specific proposals mentioned in his platform would be sent to the Senate's standing committees within the next week.
"Once we get set up, we plan to issue charges to the standing committees and begin our work towards the points and issues that were raised during the campaign—in not only our campaign but also those of all the candidates." Rofs said.
By Staff Photographer DON PIERCE
Settling into his office, newly elected student body president Ed Rolls finds time to smile over a desk already piled with paperwork. Rolls took over the office early Friday.
"I would advise you students to be very
skilled," David said. "It could be just
hurt."
Roffs, who received 1,220 votes of the 2,628 cast in the presidential election, said that his inability to win 50 per cent of the vote wouldn't affect his administration.
"I really don't see it as a major problem. I think that in a four-way race, this was a substantial number of votes. And although we would have liked a majority, we were very happy with the plurality we received," he said.
Rolfs' victory was a contrast to last year's contest for student body president in which John Beisner defeated Rolfs by only 116 votes.
Moved in
"Last year, I think the race was a lot more heated and there were more controversial issues," Rolfs said. "This year, it was much less heated and probably a bit more oriented."
Nebraska at Omaha box number and an Omaha motel phone number in its ad, needs an air tax commercial operator certificate issued by a spokesman for the FAA, said Friday.
Carlson, who now lives in Concordia, has had some influence on his grandson.
Morris said the FAA's central region headquarters in Kansas City, which covered a four-state area, had no record of fires. He also told Liberman, who supposedly was its owner.
However, Rolfs will begin immediately to work on campaign proposals that stressed the need for improved classroom teaching, including the use of new programs, the posting of names of faculty members being considered for promotion and tenure and a closer relationship between the athletic board and university of Kansas Athletic Corporation.
Rolfs said he might be consulting one political adviser outside the Senate and administration. That adviser is his grandfather, Frank Carlson, former Kansas Congressman, governor and United States Senator.
"Now we get to stop having fun and get down to working for the next year and trying to get the things accomplished we want to." Rolfs said. "As I said before December and before our campaign platform came out, we have done a lot of work in our headquarters and we felt and feel now that our programs and proposals are feasible."
"Just the fact that he has been involved has gotten me involved since as long as I can believe it."
"We're going to try to get some appointments made with the chancellor and executive vice chancellor and others. Of course, they are involved now with getting state funds for the University and I don't want to bother them," Rolfs said.
Liberman, who gave no other address in the ad, couldn't be reached for comment. A clerk at the Omma motel said Liberman had checked out last week.
Rofs was busy Friday setting up appointments with University administrators and talking with campaign supporters who stopped by the Senate office.
Morris said he would circulate copies of
AIM leader charges 'racist judge' prejudiced trial of Topeka Indian
Rv.JANHYATT
Kansan Staff Reporter
A leader of the American Indian Movement (AIM) said Friday night that a "judicial lynching by a racist judge" was involved in the conviction and imprisonment of Joyce Guerrero, a Potatowicato Indian and Topeka resident.
Vernon Bellecourt, of the Minnesota AIM chapter, spoke in Hoch Auditorium to 450 persons who came expecting to hear lectures by Dr. Sullivan and leaders of the 1973 uprising at Wounded Knee.
No KU holiday for Washington
Although today is celebrated as George Washington's birthday, University of Kansas students aren't getting out of classes to enjoy it.
However, students of District 497, Eudora, DeSoto, St. John's and Haskell Indian Junior College are getting the day off.
All the federal offices, including the Post
office are close. Lawrence city and
Douglas county.
With the exception of banks, most local businesses and gas stations are open.
By federal decree, the holiday is
observed the third Monday in February
instead of March.
Knee, S.D., and actor Marlon Brando talk about Guerrero's case.
Banks was in Custer, S.D., for a court bearing Friday, and Means and Brando were unable to come to Lawrence because of other matters, Belcourt said.
Bellecourt said the jury in the May 1973 trial of Guerrero was affected by prejudicial remarks by a judge of the federal district court in Topeka.
Guerrero was convicted of possession of stolen government documents taken from the Washington office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1972. The judge sentenced her to six months in prison and two one half years probation following her prison term. She is serving her sentence at the state women's penal institution in Lansing.
"Joyce Guerrero was tried in a racist courtroom by a judge who for to long has been allowed to sit on his bench. He is a man who has always called all the stereotypes of Indian people." Bellecourt said.
Bellcourt acknowledged the presence of white audience members in the courts' rights and issues
ropea journalists are investigating Guerrero's trial and other press representatives and all white citizens should become interested in the trial and question its procedures and verdict, Pellecourt said.
"Indian people today find it hard to tell which of you are the good guys and which of you are the bad guys."
He said tensions caused by the Wounded Knee incident, which had occurred a few months before Guerrero's trial, prejudiced the judge and the jury.
was growing among young white Americans.
we said the Indians' primary enemy was the Christian churches because of their vast holdings of land that rightfully belonged to Indians.
The educational system and the federal government are the next most important obstacles in the Indians' struggle for freedom and a decent living, he said.
Indians are willing to work with white
individuals, Bellocourt said, to restructure the
Bellcourt's speech was followed by an explanation of Guerrero's case by Ken Carpenter, a Topeka lawyer who took her case last December.
Friday's program was sponsored by the Fridays' program on Indian Affairs (CIA) and MECHA, a Chicoan organization. The program's purpose was to draw attention to Guerro's case and to gather support and advice from Antonelle Houle, CIA vice chairman, said.
Literature passed out to the audience asked for donations to pay for Guerrero's personal and legal expenses and for letters and petitions to congressmen and President Gerald R. Ford urging presidential commutation of the sentence.
A total of $114 was collected from the audience to pay for the costs of the program, according to Edgar Heap of Birds, CIA chairman.