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MONDAY, APRIL 23, 2007
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EDITORIAL: Yet another shooting should prompt reconsideration of gun control laws to prevent more violence in the United States. See Kansan.com for more opinions and Free for All comments
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
PAGE 7A
OUR VIEW
Gun control laws need examination
In the aftermath of the Virginia Tech tragedy, the hot debate on gun control will inevitably arise, along with the tired mantra of the NRA: Guns don't kill people.
We all know that guns don't walk around and pull their own triggers. People shoot guns, guns spit bullets and bullets cause deadly physical damage. It should be relevant, however, that distressed loners and enraged exes specifically reach for guns in their murderous rages because guns are highly effective killing tools that are too easily available.
Some believe that violent episodes such as the recent school shooting would not occur if more persons protected themselves with guns. If we all had guns and someone started unloading bullets in an innocent crowd, we would have a war, not peace. Even if a few law-abiding citizens with good aim managed to quickly quell the havoc, there would be far more incensed and disillusioned people that would use guns to begin conflict.
Yet gun control is severely lacking. In Kansas, there are no restrictions on the number of guns that can be purchased, no record on gun sale and no requirement that guns be registered with law enforcement. Assault weapons are as available as hunting rifles. Customers do not need a license or training to purchase a handgun and it is not necessary to buy a child-safety lock. There is no waiting period on gun sales after the criminal background, which occurs only at federally-licensed gun stores and not at other venues, such as gun shows. In 1999, the Harvard School of Public Health found
two-thirds of grade school and high school students reported that they could obtain a gun within 24 hours.
Such lenient gun control has caused countless tragedies. In 1998, the Centers for Disease Control found that 57 percent of gun deaths involved suicide and 40 percent involved homicide.
Far more plentiful than armed outlaws, however, are crushed, confused and irrational individuals near boiling point whose first crime begins with a rash decision to reach for an easily available gun. As history demonstrates, their hasty crimes can leave an indelible scar in society.
Another famed NRA slogan asserts "when guns are outlawed, only outlaws have guns."
According to a report by the US Secret Service and the US Department of Education, two thirds of students involved in nearly 40 school shootings from 1974 to 2000 obtained their guns from their own home or a relative's home. A child's risk of committing suicide is also greater when guns are available in the home.
In the wake of yet another school shooting, we must begin to realize the relation between gun availability and gun-related deaths. Capping freedom is a touchy topic, but we all already understand that individual freedoms are reasonably and necessarily limited. Most significantly, it is wrong and illegal to kill another person. Why, therefore, should it be legal to easily sell and trade guns primarily used to kill people?
Alison Kieler for the editorial board
FREE FOR ALL
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Happy four-twenty, Free for All. Smoke a fatty.
>> DECONSTRUCTING MEDIA
Wacky style goes far for Idol contestant
Season six of American Idol has proved vexing for many of its fans. Not only have America's votes been all over the place, but the focus of this year's competition has changed from the performers' singing to their fashion sense. It's no wonder fans are confused about who to vote for.
Natalie Johnson. associate opinion editor
864-4924 or njhonson@kansan.com
Nicole Kelley, managing editor
864-4854 or nikoley@kansan.com
Gabriella Souza, editor
864-4854 or gsouza@kansan.com
Lindsey Shirack, business manager
864-4014 or lshirack@kansan.com
Patrick Ross, managing editor 864-4854 or pross@kansan.com
Contestants have caught on to this new trend, though. Two of the Top 24 contestants used their fashion sense for weeks to further themselves in the competition. Haley Scarnato, from San Antonio, made it all the way to the Top 8, and Sanjaya Malakar, from Federal Way, Wash., made it into the Top 7, finally getting voted off last week.
Jackie Schaffer, sales manager
864-4462 or jschaffer@kansan.com
Macolm Gibson, general manager, news adviser 864-7667 or macolmijansan.com
BY JODI ANN HOLOPRIKE
KANSAN COLUMNIST
OPINION@KANSAN.COM
While Scarnato's fashion sense mostly consisted of strutting her long, tan legs across the stage, Malakar managed to peak the nation's interest with a wacky new hairdo and wardrobe each time he
One other performance sticks out in the mind. During jazz night, Malakar came out in a white suit with a black shirt underneath. His hair was slicked back in a bob and a cheesy grin radiated off his face. While the look was fitting for jazz night and his song, "Cheet to cheek," I think anyone could have mistook him for a grown-up version of Alfalfa from "Little Rascals."
Jennifer Weaver, sales and marketing adviser
864-7666 or jweaver@kansan.com
Courtney Hagen, opinion editor 864-4924 or chagen@kansan.com
and shit kickers.
Now that Malakar and his nonexistent talent have been voted off, it is necessary to pay tribute to his ever-budding "character" on the show so that others may learn thc scaupe in disguise.
through the Top 24, Malakar came out bold and spring with the "pony-hawk" — a Mohawk created by putting his hair in several frized-out pony tails. Does any-
took the stage.
TALK TO US
During Malakar's eight-week stay, he sported everything from a drifting wanderer's outfit with blah, non-styled hair to a piano man's white and black suit with slicked back hair in a bob.
A little more than half-way
one remember the song he sang while sporting this do? No. Why? Everyone was laughing through the entire performance and asking themselves, "What the f***?"
It's obvious his style choices were intentional. If not, spectators and radio talk show hosts wouldn't have been blabbing on and on the day after each show, dissecting Malakar's looks.
In his last performance, Malakar sported a red bandana that he must have thought shouted "I'm all country!" Instead, his look was reminiscent of a Diana Ross-bad hair day that couldn't be tamed by product so instead had to rope-in by a bandana. A hoe-down might have been more suitable complete with cowboy hat, chaps, a big belt buckle
For those of you wanting to try out for American Idol next season, don't forget that incorporating eccentric looks into your wardrobe isn't necessarily a bad thing to do on this show. If this trend continues, a crazy fashion sense might just what you need to get you into the Top 12. From there, No. 1's not so far away.
Holopirek is an Otis graduate student in journalism.
University should reconsider safety options
>> LETTER TO THE EDITOR
I want to thank you for your outpouring of support and the condolences that you sent to Virginia Tech students, professors and their families. We are profoundly sadened by this tragedy. So thank you for taking the time to express your support and concern. It helps to hear and see a visible expression of your sympathy.
However, this tragedy requires a few more words and observations. Maybe they will help you and the chancellor as you decide what changes to make at the University of Kansas. I grew up in Fairway and graduated from the University in 1969.
Why? So they can quickly give unvarnished recommendations directly to the chancellor without fear of disagreeing with their boss. The University's current system may be perfect. But, whatever it is, it needs to be tested with real life scenarios on an annual basis. The Montgomery County, Va., Hospital that received most of the injured patients runs real time drills twice a year. They say that those drills and the changes they inspired, insured that they would be ready to deal with multiple casualties and save multiple lives.
I came to Charlottesville, the home of the University of Virginia, in 1971 and assumed my first professional position as the assistant to the city manager, who was also a KU graduate. From here I went on to become the city manager of Roanoke, Va. Roanoke is 35 miles from Virginia Tech and has the same
supportive and emotional connection to the university as we did living in Fairway, with the University of Kansas. My son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren live there today.
City managers are required to make many decisions that affect the safety of the residents and visitors to their city. The difficulty of those decisions is of no interest to the population. They want the right decision made at the right time. Citizens have a right to make such a demand. Speed and efficiency are highly valued and required in city government.
Universities operate in a different environment. Speed and efficiency are not as highly valued. The time to write, do research and debate is a higher value than efficiency and it should be. Fundamental research and the writing of books can take years, if not decades to complete.
Unfortunately, these two cultures can collide when a public safety
Best wishes, stay safe, ask questions and only accept concrete and measurable solutions.
Bern Ewert Charlottesville, Va.
You must be asking: "What can we do to insure that the University of Kansas campus is as safe as possible?" I suggest the following for your consideration. First, tell the chancellor what emergency information you want, when you want it and how you want to receive it. Second, tell the chancellor when you want this system in place. Third, look at the lock down procedures and see if they are acceptable. Fourth, look at the experience and credentials of the individual responsible for public safety and to whom they report. In my opinion, they should probably report directly to the chancellor.
crises arrives or is anticipated. The Daily Progress, our local newspaper, said that the president of the University of Virginia will install an instant messaging system for emergencies by the beginning of next academic year and that Virginia Tech has been considering installing such a system for many months. These are not speedy decisions.
Do we care? If so, what can be done to change it?
There are many academic issues arising from this tragedy that should be discussed next academic year.
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EDITORIAL BOARD
Gabriella Souza, Nicole Kelley, Patrick Ross, Courtney Hagen, Natalie Johnson, Alison Kieler, Tasha Riggins and McKay Stangler