This appeared in today's "Public Forum." It's always good to now that
someone gets it right.
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Simplistic propaganda
Just having the rule "no guns on campus" to send a message isn't good
enough when it strips the only people who will obey it of their
constitutional right. Unless the University of Utah has a way to enforce
its policy on those with malicious intent, no matter how lofty an ideal
this rule is based upon, it will only be followed by Utah's
non-threatening, law-abiding gun permit holders. It will not stop
someone with criminal intent from bringing a gun on campus and wreaking
havoc.
The rule may indeed make some misinformed people feel safe, but at the
expense of stripping law-abiding citizens of their constitutional right
and setting an alarming precedent for other entities to follow. Marla
Kennedy, executive director of Utahns Against Gun Violence and the
Trib's editorial columns have both accused Utah's lawmakers of ignoring
their constituency who oppose guns in schools. I thank God these
lawmakers are looking at the big picture, using factual information and
weighing all the complexities and issues involved, instead of being
pressured by the simplistic and emotional propaganda disseminated by
anti-gun groups.
Do Utahns Against Gun Violence believe in cooperating with gun
manufacturers and organizations that actively promote gun safety and
family values as the answer to gun violence rather than banning guns
altogether? If they are not open to this kind of partnership, then
perhaps they should change their name to accurately reflect who they
really are -- Utahns Against Guns.
Wendy Mair
Heber City
someone gets it right.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Simplistic propaganda
Just having the rule "no guns on campus" to send a message isn't good
enough when it strips the only people who will obey it of their
constitutional right. Unless the University of Utah has a way to enforce
its policy on those with malicious intent, no matter how lofty an ideal
this rule is based upon, it will only be followed by Utah's
non-threatening, law-abiding gun permit holders. It will not stop
someone with criminal intent from bringing a gun on campus and wreaking
havoc.
The rule may indeed make some misinformed people feel safe, but at the
expense of stripping law-abiding citizens of their constitutional right
and setting an alarming precedent for other entities to follow. Marla
Kennedy, executive director of Utahns Against Gun Violence and the
Trib's editorial columns have both accused Utah's lawmakers of ignoring
their constituency who oppose guns in schools. I thank God these
lawmakers are looking at the big picture, using factual information and
weighing all the complexities and issues involved, instead of being
pressured by the simplistic and emotional propaganda disseminated by
anti-gun groups.
Do Utahns Against Gun Violence believe in cooperating with gun
manufacturers and organizations that actively promote gun safety and
family values as the answer to gun violence rather than banning guns
altogether? If they are not open to this kind of partnership, then
perhaps they should change their name to accurately reflect who they
really are -- Utahns Against Guns.
Wendy Mair
Heber City
