Rebuttal to concealed carry promoters
I’d like to point out, yet again, that it is not students’ position to police campus. If you are so inclined to defend campus, join the police force. My big question for all the pro-concealed carry folks, however, is if there ever happened to be a school shooting here at State, just how exactly would you know who the shooter is? How are you going to find him? If you hear it’s a six-foot-tall male with brown hair, how will you know which six-foot-tall male with brown hair it is? That doesn’t even cover the fact that the whole school shooting issue is blown way out of proportion. Yes, a few happen every year, however, you are much more likely to be involved in a deadly car crash than a school shooting. You’re basing your argument on the scare tactics our current government often uses. Another problem I have is the issue of how all of the concealed carry supporters accuse dissenters of “holding themselves on a higher plane of intellect than their fellow students,” when that seems to be just what the pro-concealed carry group is doing. I myself, was accused of being “unable and unwilling to accept responsibility” for my own defense, while Mr. Hymel went on to state that he would gladly defend me for this reason. So let me get this straight: because I don’t own a gun and don’t support the right for students to carry one on campus, I can’t defend myself? And that would explain why I lock my door at night and when I leave my room? Or why I lock my car? Or why I don’t walk around campus alone at 2 a.m.? Mr. Hymel, I do plenty to protect myself, and I can tell you that carrying a gun around with me on campus is not necessary. If you want to keep a gun in your apartment or car or whatnot, go ahead. It is your Second Amendment right, after all. A school campus, however, is not the place for anyone to be carrying a gun, permit or not, if they are not defined by the law as a a public defender. Your job as a student at State is to get an education. If you want to protect campus, join the police force. But don’t take the law into your own hands.
Charlie Burnettfreshman, First Year College
Be considerate of your surroundings
I’m sure everyone attending the event on Harris Field on Sunday, April 6, had a wonderful time. However, I wanted to inform the coordinators of that event that I did not appreciate the loud, booming noise that persisted all afternoon while I was trying to study and do homework. The noise was so overwhelming that I had to leave my dorm in order to concentrate. In the future, if you are holding an event anywhere on campus please be considerate to those that are not in attendance. Something as simple as reducing the volume of the bass could have alleviated this problem.
Lydia Abernethysophomore, biological sciences
Use your space to address the real issues
After reading today’s paper I was appalled to see the headline “China draws up plans for perfect Games: Pollution, weather modification among Beijing’s issues for 2008 Summer Olympics.” Don’t you think Beijing has other, more important issues to inform students of? Instead of using a full page devoted to the weather in China surrounding the Olympics, I would have liked to see an article addressing the unrest and political demonstrations that have been staged in every city that the Olympic torch been, causing it’s flame to be snuffed out several times. It would be nice to hear you inform students of China’s deplorable human rights record; explain why protesters scaled the Golden Gate Bridge to erect signs in an act of civil disobedience; inform students of our Speaker of the House’s call for China to end their crackdown of peaceful protests; educate people to the fact that foreign media is not allowed to visit areas where riots are taking place. You had a FULL PAGE to let students know about all of these things and failed to do so. It was a real waste of paper.
Justin Davisjunior, textile and apparel management
