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TENSONS FROM
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The police showed up to the Dowdells' home and called for their father, Frank, to bring out the dog. He refused, but Stephen said police threatened to arrest Frank if he didn't comply.
Frank brought the dog out and Lawreance police subsequently shot the dog in the head.
"There we are, eight, nine years old, watching this. So what would make them think we would like the police after that anymore? We saw them shoot our best dog, our only dog and then they just got in their car and
just took off and the dog was still laying there," Stephen said.
Dowdell was a black rights activist involved with the Black Student Union and Afro House. Afro House was an institution partially funded by Student Senate and essentially served as Lawrence's own Black Panther Party. Located at 946 Rhode Island Street, the house offered breakfast and lunch programs for less-fortunate children and was a common hangout spot for Lawrence's black youth.
While in high school, Dowdell participated in a 1968 student walkout at Lawrence High School, according to Monhollon's book, which demanded things such as black representation on the cheerleading squad, black history courses, black literature courses and the hiring of black teachers and administrators. Reopening the investigation of his death was also included in the 15 demands Rock Chalk Invisible Hawks made in November.
ing with Dowdell's casket donned massive afros and black clothing. According to Tuttle, there was a man sitting on the casket with a rifle.
On July 23, 1970. Dowdell was buried. During the procession hundreds of people marched down Vermont Street, then to Ninth Street and finally to St. Luke A.M.E. Church, located at 900 New York Street. The men and women march-
"I thought something terrible might take place, but it didn't," Tuttle said. "You could see how dramatic it was."
Dowdell's death was met with several protests on campus and throughout Lawrence, but the violence didn't stop there. Nick Rice, another University student, was also killed by a Lawrence police officer who shot into a crowd during a protest, Tuttle said. Just like Dowdell, Rice was shot through the
back of the head.
According to Monhollon, Dowdell's death is strikingly similar to deaths of numerous black people in recent memory.
"It struck me on several occasions over the last several years that we've seen an increase in the number of incidents between police departments and mostly unarmed young black men," Monhollon said. "The number of confrontations, the number of black deaths as a result of these confrontations and it's reminded me of what happened in Lawrence and how Rick Dowdell was killed at the hands of Lawrence police."
46 years later, the deaths of unarmed people at the hands of law enforcement bring back painful memories for Stephen. The 2014 shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. particularly struck a nerve for Stephen. According to the New York Times, Brown was laying on the ground for four hours. Stephen said his brother laid in the alley for just as long as Brown did in Ferguson, if not longer.
"It does make me feel kind of angry inside that after all them years, the same thing is still happening and I'm just trying to comprehend why is this still happening?" Dowdell said.
GUNS FROM PAGE 1
packing a gun," he said.
packing a gun, he said. The same month as a gunman killed 49 people in Orlando, most of which were members of the Hispanic and LBGTQ+ community, the NICS reported a 40 percent increase in background checks, which provide the most reliable figure for gun sales. In Kansas, there are even fewer restrictions for carrying a gun. Since July of last year, Kansans 21 and older can carry concealed handguns without a permit. And in July of 2017, this privilege will be extended to the University.
There will undoubtedly be more guns in Lawrence with the expansion of concealed carry, the increase of high-profile national attacks and Sells incoming gun range. The real debate is whether or not that's a good thing. Sells believes much of the fear surrounding guns and concealed carry is
due to misinformation and selective framing by the media. After all, the presence of guns is nothing new in Kansas, it's merely been better hidden.
"You could walk from the city commission at 10 in the morning, walk down to 11th street, cross the street and you'd have already walked past 10 or 20 people who have a gun stuck down the back of their pants," Sells said.
However, the change in policy means people can carry regardless of training and knowledge. Even though it's not a requirement, Sells wants to put education at the center of his gun range. His facility will offer free concealed carry classes, as well as a bimonthly Pink Pistols program, which creates a space specifically for women to learn gun safety in a welcoming environment. He has already planned for marketing these classes and hopes any college students considering campus carry
will attend.
Sells is unsure of the need for campus carry, but is not necessarily concerned about an increase in violence. In fact, few community members have voiced strong support to the policy. A 2016 survey by the Kansas Board of Regents reported that 82 percent of its schools' employees would feel less safe if students could carry guns in class. A number of groups have come out in opposition, including "Keep KU Gun Free 2017."
Allison McFall, a 2016 graduate and cofounder of the group, believes the policy will create a number of issues even without an incident of an attack.
"The priority doesn't seem to be making people feel safe if it goes against their wishes," McFall said.
Along with the group, McFall published a policy brief and interviewed students and faculty to learn their perspectives on campus carry. She
found that students were psychologically impacted and would feel the need to adjust their behavior with the introduction of guns into the classroom. According to McFall, one professor even declared his intent to leave the University upon implementation of the policy and said that many current and prospective faculty would be inclined to do the same.
Even beyond the threat of homicide, McFall cited the association between gun accessibility and suicide. Many people suffering from suicidal thoughts make the decision to kill themselves
"It's so threatening to be aware of guns in a space that's been so closely associated with mass shootings in the past decade," she said.
with in a few minutes, and a study published in the Journal
of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry showed that adolescents who committed suicide were twice as likely to have a gun in house. Multiple students have committed suicide in residence halls, and McFall fears this could be even more prevalent with campus carry.
While McFall and Sells differ on the need for guns in the community, both agree that gun owners should educate themselves as much as possible, regardless of what the law requires. In a year's time, students will be able to buy guns from Sells and take them to class. He wants to make sure they're as safe and smart with them as possible.
NINTRO TO CAMPUS CARRY
*Kansas concealed carry only applies to handguns, which are defined as pistols or revolvers designed to be fired by the use of a single hand.
*The University cannot require registration of lawfully possessed concealed carry handguns, nor can it require training.
*Buildings can only prohibit concealed carry if they provide adequate security measures (ASMs).
*Students can conceal handguns in backpacks or purses as long as the vessel remains in their possession.
*Students carrying handguns must take reasonable measures to conceal the handgun. Accidental display of the handgun does not warrant punishment, but intentionally displaying or brandishing violates Board policy.
Information courtesy of the Kansas
Information courtesy of the Kansas Board of Regents
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