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Show Opinion FRIDAY, June 14, 1996 The Salt Lake Tribune PAGE A34 THIS & WHAT tho. COURTS 4AD to SN‘Aga OUR VIEW The Salt Lake Tribune's Editorial Position INTERNET: The Diseas e of Racism Aterrible sickness blights our land Despite all the resources that have been marshaled towarda curefor it over the last three decades, morethan 30 burnings of black churches in the last year and ahalftestify starkly that the sickness of racism still poisons America Finally, national leaders are paying attention to thecrisis. In the last week President Clinton has devoted his national radio addressto it and has visited the site of a destroyed church in South Carolina. pastors of black churches have met with federal law enforcement officials, and Congress has begun to move the Church Arson Prevention Act to give federal officials morelatitudein prosecuting these horrible crimes It is an appropriate. albeit tardy, re. sponse. But ultimately, government ac tion can only address the symptoms of the disease. the church arsons. Thedis: easeitself. violent racism, remains uncured a generationafter Martin Luther King Jr. drew fromthe moral force of black churches, many of which were torched in his time. andled a crusade to extinguish the flames ofbigotry During the past week. law enforce ment officials have been criticized for failing to find a link among all these arsons to organized white supremacist groups. They maintain that there is no evidence of a conspiracy among the cases on which they have made arrests and that. with more than 200 federal agents involved. they areinvestigating the arsons vigorously But what is moredisturbing. a con. spiracyor the lack of one? For, if these arsons are not the handiwork of some wretched white supremacy group, then the grim reality wouldbe that there are enough copycat bigots across the South who areso crazed by theiriliness that they wouldset thesefires unilaterally Indeed. the depth of the sickness is star- ing Americain theface: the possibility that a 13-year-old girl set a Charlotte churchon fire last week Whatever created this new climate of hatred, it is not confined to the South. It was only five months ago that three black churches in Utah were the subjects of racist venom, One was smeared with swastika stickers and racist handbills. while two others receivedletters of racist intimidation The climate needs healing. It will not get it when Republican Dick Armey derides President Clinton's visit to a burned-out churchas a photo-op, and it will not get it when Jesse Jackson and others insinuate blame on Republicans for their Contract With America policies same spirit that King took from the last wave a generation ago — a dream to Court Invites Police Abuse TheSupremeCourt went too far this permission to search “suspicious people for narcotics. While helping government wage war on drug dealers. the decision encourages thediscriminatory or arbitrary harassment of innocent citizens The justices essentially agreed the Fourth Amendment right of privacy does not prevent police from using minor traffic violations as a pretext to search for drugs. It makes no difference, they decided. that thereis no outward evidencea vehicleis transporting drugs The ruling is understandable given case before them Two District of Columbia police apparently noticed a Way to temper the zeal of law enfercement officers and prevent discrimination. Instead of using physical characteristics, such as ageor skin color. sons had to be reasonable, so astodiscourage the arbitrary or broad use of traffic stops to combat crime Bysaying the motives of investigating officers are immaterial and that the need to enforce the law outweighs people’s interest in avoiding police contact Evenif none of thesesigns is obvia whole, they might raise suspicion thepolice should be able to stop the vehicle becauseof their hunch about drug-dealing Requiring the probable violation of an obscure traffic rule seemsan irrelevant and deceptive technicality Yet that requirement has been one forceof good. A personwith a concealed weapon, permit not withstanding, is a re- minder of the negative forces at work among us, notthepositive It is indeedironic that so many who are arguing for the right to carry a gun to church, and everywhere else, go each Sunday to worship a man whochastised oneof his disciples for using a sword to defendhimagainst his enemies. “ButJe. sus said to him, ‘Put up your sword. All who take the sword die by the sword (Matthew26:52). CRAIG AXFORD Salt Lake City stopped moreoftenthan whites. But minorities will not be the only to arbitrary. often unwarranted. scruti- Guns Don't Cause Violence Some would haveus believe that the mere presence of guns induces aggres. siveor violent behavior Thisis utter nonsense. and the fuss over the new con- ANOTHER VIEW cealed-carry law typifies the idiocy of From The Miami Herald tionsof some folks (including representa tives of Utahns Against Gun Violence). Errors Made on Brown’s Plane A breakdown in theAir Force of ommand spawneda chainof deadly er rors, the Air Force says i a report ex plaining thecrashthat killed Commerce Secretary Ron Browna d 34 others April Yet they werenot responsible for earli er decisions that haveleft military pas Brown's plane slammed into a moun senger planes without precision naviga struments. anti-collision radar that 3. It is not a comforting report tain on its approach to theairport in Du. rovnik, Croatia It was ill-equipped. off ourse, approaching too fast at the wrong altitude, andits pilots wererelying on er roneous charts. The fatal decision pinpointed t tigators was one by Brig Gen. W: orders to che commercial jetliners. and advanced ground-proximity warning sys tems. which help prevent accidents There is also a nagging doubt: Had Brown’s plane not gone down, those now com able approach guides to the airports a zuide that proved inaci rate as regards ly expediting OperationJoint Endeavor Defense Secretary William J prudently ordered a review of equipment and procedures usedon military passen ger planes But changing military atti tudes in pe etimeto giveas much weight to safety the mission greater c ge The Salt Lake Tribune UTAH’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1871 PAST PUBLISHERS PUBLISHER John F. Fitzpatrick (1924-1960: John W Gallivan 1960-1983 Jerry O'Brien (1983-1994) this thinking. Contrarytothedirepredic- there hasn't been a rash of “Wild West shootouts” as predicted Many peaceable individuals whoobtained concealed-car- Ty permits go about their business as usu- Dominic Welch EDITOR James E Shelledy EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR Harry E. Fuller, Jr KEARNS-TRIBUNE CORPORATION, 143 S, MAIN ST SALT LARE CITY, 84111 ——— BKeep itshort acise letters developare morelikely to be published Please type and double space @ Letters are condensed and edited. M Secose of the volume cf ceived, mail re ot all submissions are published E Mail (o Public Forum, The Sait Lake |, Tribune, P() Utah 84110. Box 867. Salt Lake City @ Our fax numberis (801) from taking a gun anywhere they want simply because ofa policy statement forbidding concealed carry of firearms These policies are obviously more mean- ingless political gesturing and will do 237-2316. In following the discussion concerning the carrying of concealed firearms as described bythis newspaper and other local papers, a few disturbing points become evident. Onetroubling image that the me- dia like to conveyis thatthereis no distinction between legal, trained and per- mitted firearm carriers and those who conceal a weaponon their person illegally. This is unfair to those who havea legitimate desire to carry a weapon and have undertaken the necessary steps to Another falsehood continually As a Utah Jazz fan. I would like to say They work together as a team. They don’t put each other down or make bad remarks about other teams. They don't b to go out and break chairs. bad-mouth, show disrespect for their country or have colored hair to make themselves noticed. Jerry Sloan andthe teamshouldbe proudof the im age they give and the guts they show as a team. a team children can use a role model, one that parents don’t have to be worried about We shouldbe gladthat peoplelikethe Jazz teat, came here Utah no matter what state they from, win or lose. represent JUNE E HANSEN Sandy revoked for firearm-related incidents, Denying law-abidingcitizens the right to concealed carry will not increase anyone’s safety; it will only make the crimi- nal element more secure. Individuals havethe right to protect themselves and their families from harm. Many of us be- lievefirearmsprovidethe best opportunity to accomplish this. If this fundamental right is impeded through the efforts of people like Sackett and Utahns Against Gun Violence, | hope they are held responsible for the innocent victims MICHAELE. KRZYNOWEK Layton oO forth by the news media is that the average work-a-day, taxpayingcitizen cannot betrusted with either the decision, or the means, to defend him orherself, and that fense is abhorrent. This fear anddistrust of the individual's ability to make such a choice reeks ofelitism and is a fundamental precept of collectivist policy It seemsto methat the law is clear on the carrying of concealed weapons; that is, a permit holder maycarry a weapon in a discreet manner anywhere he or she feels it is necessaryor desirable to do so The only confusionis in those whofind individual self-reliance contraryto their collectivist agenda and must seek some way to circumvent the law LEW HANSEN Clearfield Cook's Republican Credentials Trecently heard someof myneighbors questioning whether Merrill Cookis really a Republican. I want toset the record straight Since 1976, Cook has been out fighting for Republican issues and causes, He was a Ronald Reagan delegateto the Republican National Convention in 1976. In the mid-'80s, he served on the Utah State Republican Central Committee. Heled the fight for term limits for Utah politicians and fought for tax relief for all Utahns. Republicans will recognize these issues as cornerstones of the Contract With America, which was at the heart of the Republican revolution in 1994 No onehasfought harderfor Republi- canissueslike fiscal responsibility, defi- Transit Bargain cit reduction and budget discipline than Recently, my wife and I had an occasiontovisit relatives in Phoenix. Being senior citizens, we chose to fly rather than drive. While we both have valid taxes and rein in spending. No one has spent more of his own time and money fighting for conservative values than Cook driverlicenses. we only use the car for grocery shopping, Cook. No one has worked harder to cut JAMES LANKFORD barber and beauty Proud of Jazz that I am proudof our team’s integrity Florida pioneered Utah's current con- cealed-carry laws back in 1987. While put port from Phoenix, we decided to take the Utah Transit Authority bus to American Fork. After about a 10-minutewait. we boarded a bus for downtown Salt self-control. ing a “weapon-free zone” at a park or store doso parlor appointments, etc Uponour arrival at the Salt Lakeair- compassion for others, goodattitude and fense, not criminalactivities. The criminals don't bother with paperwork, and they certainly won't respect a sign declar- 22 percent and only 19 of 266,700 per- nothing to ensure the safety of anyone STEVE CANNON Salt Lake City Tribune, June 2) Law-abiding citizens obtain these permits for the express purpose of self-de- mits (7/1000ths of 1 percent) have been On the other hand. s baffling that anyone with a functioning brainstem could believe that someonealready posSessing murderous or anti-social inten- tions would be the least bit dissuaded Folks like Gary Sackett and Utahns Against Gun Violencemiss the mark with their efforts to limit legal concealed carry, especially in public areas (“Gun Law May Override Weapon-Free Zones. anti-gun groups howled predictions of Wild West shootouts, the opposite has vccurred. Florida's homicide rate dropped Trust Everyman’s Judgment al — peaceably in line for commendations for successful der. Steyens sought but was denied a Nonet d pilots to use comm is required on being called to account might instead be of unfamiliar European air Described as a “mission first” Dubro nik Rightly. Stevens ana two col els have been relieved of their com inds All may now face court-martial Information other than your nameandthe city in which you live are kept confidential the very thought of pro-active self-de- victims of intrusive law enforcement All Americans will be moresusceptible ny by the police Forum,please include yourfull name. sig nature, address and daytime telephone numbers, ing a single th To most of us. however, our place of worship carries far more significance than its vulnerability to attack A church a place where a community comes together in love. peace and unconditional Don't Limit Concealed Carry Where to Write @ When submittingletters to the Public potential site of some future violent crime A gun symbolizes all the things a church isn't and shouldn't be: a lack of trust in fellow worshipers (one of them may be out to get me). a lack of hopethat peoplecan cometogether in peace, a lack offaith that mankind 1s basically good Yes, there is evil in this world and bad things do happen. but most of us don't go to church to be reminded of the evil aroundus, but to gather strength to be a bothersome. demeaning searches. After all, studies indicate they already are the occupants like anyother place on the planet, is a tain drivers, police have had to find more objective reasons. And those rea- Common sense says high drug-crime area, unusual behavior andthe presence of temporarylicenseplates cates of carrying concealed weapons don’t understand why manyof us attend church each week. The only thing that seemsto matter to themis that a church, regardandtrust for one another ously illegal or justifies a search. taken of reasons. including its location in a Sanctuary Apparently Scott Engen of the Utah Shooting Sports Council and other advo- grounds for violating theprivacy of cer- as Justice Antonin Scalia did in his opinion, the High Court has opened the door a little wider to heavy-handed lawenforcement tactics. As long as thereis probable causethat sometraffic infraction has occurred, even if it is to travel too slowlyorto fail to signal properly police can stop whomever they please Despite the 14th Amendment prohibition against racial discrimination Monday's ruling may make blacks and Latinos more vulnerable than ever to specific Nissan Pathfinder for a variety Letters from The Tribune's readers racism sickness — as they have on the church arson bill in Congress — and they must pledge not to play bigotry cardsin this year’s election campaigns And Americans must draw from this awful new waveof church burnings the cure the American diseaseof bigotry week when it unanimously gavepolice THE PUBLIC FORUM Both parties must work in concert to address the current symptoms of the LakeCity. The bus driver, learning we were going to American Fork, gave us a transfer pass good for anydestination if used within two hours. Total cost: 35 cents per person. Within 30 minutes we were at the main bus terminal. After about a 30-minute wait, we were aboard a bus headed for Provo with three short stops. including American Fork Salt Lake City Cook’s Promise It appears that Merrill Cook is a candi- dateas innovativeas heis persistent. Ac cording to Geniece Fredric’s letter (Fo rum, June 4), Cook's promise never to runfor office again was not made to the voting public, but instead to Cook's wife Therefore, his wife could from the promise “release” him This could start a whole newtrend for We didn’t know the scheduleof the lo- making campaign promises. President Clinton could say that he had promised Hillary that he would not raise taxes block of our house. so we decided to call a neighbor for a lift. As we walked through the parking lot of a food market to get to again. Then, after theelection, she could release him from that promiseif he wants to raise taxes to pay for one of his new cal bus which passes within one-half a phone, my wife met another neighbor programs. Total transportation cost aboveairfare We should begrateful to have a person like Merrill Cook running, with his new ideas. He's figured out how to keep all his who gave us aride Total time from Phoe nix to home: three hours and 20 minutes. 70cents. Hats off to UTA for prompt and courteousservice. ROLLAND & SHIRLEY MCQUIVEY American Fork campaign promises, and will be an inspi ration to otherpoliticians. LE TOLLAAR alt Lake City |
