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Show 6 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, HE DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE 2000 Basic Human Rights Include Self Protection ity of the students. His repressive views are simply not representative of the student body. Another column in The Chronicle on Feb. 4, by Ashley Watkins, entitled, "Firearm Restriction Means Safer Society," promotes taking away people's rights. Watkins states, "There is no logical ownership... the argument for private-gu- n only people who need to own guns are the military, law enforcement and murderers," If I had to guess, I would say Watkins is from a small town called Happyfunville a place where everything is fine, and guns are bad because they could hurt someone. view is startling. This nzrrow-minde- d Watkins must think everyone who owns a gun is a brainless hillbilly who wants to kill. Gans are tools, and, if used properly, can save lives. It is true that in this country, we are not fearful of invasion or that the government would kill or enslave us; but there are some bad people in the world, and yes, even in Utah. In countries where there are strict laws against guns and strict penalties for having them criminals still get guns. Editor: I enjoy reading the school paper, but it seems that when I read it, people that represent a minority of opinions try to change laws to suit themselves. It bothers me to think that my friends who love ths country and the right to carry guns are stepped on by people who seem to have an endless amount of time and energy. They have time to write articles on topics they don't fully understand, and energy to wait long hours in the Utah State Legislature just to take away other people's rights. It bothers me that when I think my rights arc-- OK and all is well, they could actually be taken away from me. There was an editorial last week that praised Ben McAdams (ASUU President) for his crusade against concealed weapons. This editorial wondered why there wasn't much student support for McAdams and his persona! crusade. I'll tell you why there is so little student support. It is because McAdams stands at the head of a very small percentage of students that want to take away rights. His crusade is truly a personal one and will not be supported by the major TOWELS continued from paae 5 already naturally selected, and paper towels were removed from the campus ecosystem. One should wonder if a similar hotbed of controversy, passion and debate pitted the U community against itself back when paper became cloth as well. This is unlikely. Only the wisdom and sensitivity of an enlightened 21st century is capable of this kind of unnecessary care. Leave it to modern society to take a simple bathroom towci-matcri- titoe al Second-Amendme- choice and complicate it. The problem isn't in the complication, though; nor is it the fact that the U campus now needs to choose between cloth and paper. The problem is in the fact that deliberation, committees and trials periods have been spent on the matter. Perhaps if the administration would just choose one way or the other on such a issue, then there wouldn't be any issue. But instead of tackling some semblance of a real issue, the administration has the campus fighting over which towel choice, cloth or paper, is right for our community. sDdi There are countries that don't aliow zens to own guns, but you don't hear one calling them "the land of the free," had to guess, i would say Watkins is from a small town called Happyfunvllle-- a place where Sf nt ! everything is fine, and guns are bad because they could hurt someone. And Watkins, there are people that would not hesitate to hurt you or ycur family. That is why there are concealed-weapon- s permits and private gun ownership. A society without the right to bear arms scares me. That would mean that normal; citizens would not have guns. Think about it: Thieves, rapists and murderers would have all the guns. They would continued from page 5 down in the first ten amendments to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, are of which we speak. These rights include these issues of expression and relihave and since been extended to gion, all human to beings, regardless apply of gender, age or social status. Other rights to be included are those stared in the Declaration of Independence life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These encompass rights to employment, equal pay, housing and often-discuss- respect I Classes starting February 22. Call today to enroll! S e"e'6 kaptest.com 1im.rrt?lStPfm1 -- civil-righ- ts jfr Student I .n.1M. The issue of human rights is too broad in scope to allow this holiday to focus only of the past and present plight of the American ethnic minority. I in no way mean to belittle Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 01 his contemporaries in their historic crusade for equality. They should be praised and studied. They may even deserve an American holiday. Forty-nin- e states seem to think so. I will not disagree. My point is that in the deserved praise heaped upon the leaders of the movement, we forget that extend to all people, even the rights in the study of civil Where majority. is rights an exertion of the right of the KKK to express its beliefs? When do we discuss the hardships of the Native American, the homosexual, the Jew or even those meddling Mormons? (My apologies to any member of any of these groups who may take offense at being included in the same list as any other of these groups.) AOL keyword: kapian I'1 ,he E(jcational Tnsiinfl Spwb How did the martyred reverend feel about atheists or agnostics? Did he stand for their rights? Perhaps he did, but do we discuss that? Please do not think that I mean to ignore the continuing fight for racial equality. Discussion and action concerning this struggle should remain a large part of Human Rights Day. Include in this day education about the many other rights all humans should enjoy, including, perhaps, the right of a stata to fly an offensive flag, the right to burn a replica of that flag, the right to hate another for no rational reason, the right to raise a family or even the right to refuse to swear. There may be no better day for the Utah State Legislature to convene. Maybe they will remember that they represent all people of the state and adequately address the injustices of this great state and nation. CHRIS ARNELL Junior, Business Zl AtmLT The Daily Utah Chronicle is keeping an eye out for News writers. For over 60 years, Kaplan has been helping students get into the schools ol their choice. Whether you're facing the LSAT. GMAT, GRE, MCAT or TOEFL, take Kaplan and get the score you need to get into the schools you want. M ed JOECUNLIFFE Senior Business Jtilnfniiiif I j ng cult Kaplan gets you in. 1 law-abidi- $jjm I 1 short-sighte- ton Wwmg (3ofl'ti wmk I find a way. They could go into your house or youx car at wiiL If they caught you there and anything happened to scare them, you would be dead. Oh sure, the police would likely catch the bad guy, but does it really satfer if justice is served when you ars in a cooier down at the morgue and your family is making funeral arrangements? I know that guns don't stop all crimes, but they do stop some. Any time a criminal has to stop and think if he is going to end up dead before he commits a crime, that is progress. d But banning guns is a answer that does not address the real social problems that plague our society. It is a shame that people need to be reminded ih?t this is a free country. f really hope S.s ths citilaws don't change for the zens. I will defend myself and my family by any means necessary The only way The Man" wiil get my gun is by prying it from my cold, dead body. law-abidin- g, HUMAN RIGHTS some citiany- S PMV. Union BaUroom Fbniaty 9' 2000 9am 2pm STOP BY THE OFFICE: 240 UNION ffj Kfl jrj s |
