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Show THURSDAY, MARCH 21. THE DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE With Gun Debate. AI Parties Want Security Wad-dou- JARED WHITLEY Chronicle News Editor The debate is an emotional theme that divides people of good will, said John Francis, who moderated a panel discussion on concealed weapons Wednesday. The key to the debate is finding common ground between opposing opinions, the political science professor continued. People on both sides of the issue want the same thing: comus munity security. Last December, Attorney General Mark Shurtleff challenged the U's policy of prohibiting guns on campus. Shurtleff maintains only the state Legislature can restrict the use of guns, or authorize other agencies to restrict gun rights, accordlong-standi- ng ing to Utah law. "How does the U justify its position?" asked Utah Sen. Michael at the Hinckley Institute of Politics panel. "I believe they're flaunting ps the law." When U President Bernie Machen decided to take a stand against the Legislature, he asked student body president Ben Lowe to support him. The student body president wanted to determine what students on campus felt before speaking on their behalf for or against Machen. Lowe commissioned an independent polling agency, Jeppson Research, to ascertain student opinion. From a 400 person sample, Jeppson scientifically determined 86 il ir I A & k 1 iiilii..MiiwitiiiTniiwifl lit Kmmmi0r I 1 ' vf' - t 1 v. . ', .;(,..,,, ,::"" :::: ..'."" s : ::;-- ::: : ::::: ..:': I Mark Wilcox, a member of the pistol marksmanship class, is one of the only students allowed to have a gun on campus. criminals asked. that effect "You don't know that guns are here, that's what concealed means," Waddoups said. When asked by The Daily Utah Chronicle if Waddoups was a concealed-weapon- s permit holder, he declined to answer Many of the approximately 40 people in attendance were eager to ask the panel questions. Whenever moderator Francis solicited questions, hands shot up in every part of the room A student in the audience asked if he and Lowe were in a heated, classroom debate, would Lowe shoot him. Gunn doubts that the presence of a second gun carrier in such a situation would make it safer, and said he hopes a gun carrier wouldn't "act the part of the vigilante." Waddoups disagreed. "Brandishing a weapon is all it usually takes. The mere presence of a gun stops the threat," he said. One man said a concealed-weapon- s holder protected him on campus from a dangerously psychotic individual. Using such an example as a rule, however, constitutes "lawmaking by anecdote," Gunn said. He granted there are incidents when guns protect, but there "No," Lowe replied. One student said if an armed assailant came into his class, his only protection would be a "heavy textbook and a ballpoint pen." What would the U do to protect him, he are more incidents of accidents and suicide. debate missGunn said the pro-gu- n es the mark by addressing the topic of alone. By restricting firearms, the U would limit the opportunities for people to commit suicide. "The presence of a gun is far more dangerous than it is likely to provide protection," Gunn said. Although he doesn't know it for a fact, Francis doubts the U's losing the legal battle against guns would trigger an exodus of students and faculty away from campus. "Many of them, not all of them, will be shaken, because they're not sure how losing the legal battle will play out," he said. "Disappointment would not lntarl tr Hrnarrnrf ' Francis also said should the U win, it would not set up scanning equipment on campus periphery to screen for weapons. jwhitleychronicte.utah.edu m m All proceeds go to pay the good people lit IT'S vo JLfa8fcjuLi i 1 m 1 Mwh.Am ? c$ E-3Ry-g S W yES O il m W in l in uj ESQ siX r pa a c at Kilby for their time. with great music, free prizes and and pleasure for one night only! et 330 W. 74 1 S. WmmqI . ooooo o 1.1- y coooo m Come celebrate RED's iOOth issue " - XL 3 u o o mi OOOOO .0 f 9 f jl 4 MAP-O-RAM- A It'i bcit to enter from 700 outh and follow your note to the rock-n-rol- ll 4 1 oJJ y OOD004oUl7 loj onto 11 ry www.red-mag.co- m . :: :; rl OOOOO i ....,. v Kilby Court is -- VS . 4 ; r ir i jtr immimi0r - f I till 4 4i J ,v Iy.''- J r v .;: :: . " j r.. r: V 1 1 ferences" and "conflicting claims of right" Gun advocates say arming the citizenry increases safety, whereas gun opponents say the opposite. In the context of the U community, "Are we really willing to run this experiment to be sure?" Button asked. The U is responsible to preserve and enhance academic freedom, and Button worries about anything that hinders that. To gun advocates, however, Buttqn said academic freedom does not trump personal freedom. Academic freedom is at the heart of the U's position. Lowe said the presence of a gun in the classroom setting can intimidate other students, stifling academic discourse. Waddoups doubts a concealed gun would have f 1 f ,' t has "made up its mind," he said. U Political Science Professor Mark Button described the gun debate as one of "legitimate and reasonable dif- 1 1 ",... ps recent example of certain places where guns are prohibited. On that same example, Waddoups said the process for restricting weapons for Olympic events was handled "legally, not in defiance of the law." Challenging the state Legislature to change the gun statute is perfectly legal, said Steve Gunn, chairman of the Gun Violence Prevention Center of Utah. He doubts such a challenge would be successful. The Legislature iC: ' '.! er If 1 '"' , -- though. "We don't govern by polls, we govern by elected representatives," said. As elected representatives, legislators are responsible for assigndollars to fund the U, the ing Legislature supports the wishes of the state, not the wishes of the campus. Lowe cited Olympic venues as a tax-pay- Wad-dou- -w- Wad-doup- s, Safety on Both Sides of Gun Issue guns-on-camp- ..',,. percent of students agreed with Machen. This didn't impress Panel Talks Rights, 3 2002 O 4 9 Vi 1 - for more information r" rf dpooo EIzlztCouxt A M y 3?0 wp:t 300 west f |