To the editor:
The previous writer's logic is flawed. The basis of his argument is guns are the problem and are inherently evil, but if this is true then I ask, "Why is it necessary for the police to carry side arms?" If guns are the problem, shouldn't VUPD be restricted to pepper spray? Right about now, you are probably thinking, "But they need guns to protect us from criminals." By acknowledging this, you admit guns are only the problem in the hands of those who intend to do harm. The motivation of the individual wielding a weapon is the only thing that determines how it will be used. That is why, in the history of a trap shooting program I have personally been a part of for the past nine years, the worst injury I have ever seen is a sore shoulder.
Now let's enter the mind of a criminal planning an armed robbery. Would you rather hold up a liquor store and risk getting shot by a customer with a concealed carry permit, or head over to a nearby college campus where your target is guaranteed to be gun¬ free? It is no coincidence our most crime-ridden cities are the ones with the strictest gun control, and that nearly every major shooting, tragedies that include Columbine and Virginia Tech, has occurred in a gun free zone. Internationally, countries with the greatest crime problems are those with the strictest gun control. In Darfur, it is nearly impossible for a black citizen to obtain a firearm legally.
Firearms will always be available illegally, so what are we really accomplishing by keeping them out of the hands of law-abiding citizens, especially those already authorized to carry outside of the "gun free" zones?
Erik Soderstrom
Freshman
College of Arts and Science
Wow
I'm just actually in a little bit of shock after reading this:
"Internationally, countries with the greatest crime problems are those with the strictest gun control. In Darfur, it is nearly impossible for a black citizen to obtain a firearm legally."
I'll have to point out to you that Darfur is not suffering from a "crime problem". ITS A FREAKING GENOCIDE! And if everyone did have guns, it would be a full blown civil war.
I'll attempt to move past that painful analogy. Another silly argument you make is that everyone else should have guns if cops can have guns. Hmm, well they do go through about 6 months of training, so unless you're willing to pay for everyone else to do the same, I'd pipe it down.
Really? REALLY?!?
I just want to make a few points about some things I think are ridiculous about the Hustler right now.
1. Sports should not be on the front page. That's what the back page is for. 5-0 is supersweet and is a big deal in Vandy history, so maybe, but even still. As for all the other times it happened this year - come on.
2. Katherine Miller's opinions on the presidential candidates? I don't give a monkey's derriere about what the people on the opinion page think about McCain or Obama, why should I have to read that on the front page? Just because each party earned roughly the same number of animal icons does not make her unbiased or objective. It's a freakin' opinion!
3. Back to the Opinion page. Again, I don't give a monkey's derriere about what the people on the opinion page think about McCain or Obama, or gun rights! Let's leave it to the people who are knowledgeable professionals (or social philosophers in the case of gun rights) to give opinions on this topic, not the kid who sits next to you in PoliSci. At other colleges, the Opinion section is reserved for thoughts on campus issues and that's how it should be here.
My name is Scott Simontacchi, and I support this message.