Editor’s note: The weekly editorial in The Beacon represents the collective opinion of the majority of the The Beacon Editorial Board and not solely that of the Opinion Editor.
by Joseph B. Allegretti |
Having observed the activities of college newspapers for the past near 60 years, there are constants that do not change. The subjects are usually emotional. The “solutions” are usually illogical. And the research is usually non-existent.
Let’s examine a couple of lines presented by Lydia Laythe on page nine of The Beacon issue of Oct. 8.
“People needed guns to protect their homes because there weren’t Public Safety officers patrolling their neighborhoods.”
“People needed guns because the threat of a bear attack was more likely on the frontier…”
On the subject of public safety, the majority of cities in the U.S. are not able to instantly respond to break-ins. If they were, why are there so many neighborhood watch organizations?
On the subject of bears (not to mention mountain lions, wolves and coyotes), does Ms. Laythe know how many bears have been captured and relocated by wildlife personnel in the lower 48?
Bad people will always have weapons, especially guns. And the “law” prevalent in San Francisco in the early 1900s is not the enforcement that should be revisited.
Statements in The Beacon should be factual and not wishful. Perhaps future issues will demonstrate some improvement.
Joseph B. Allegretti was awarded an honorary degree in 2001 and is a member of the UP Board of Regents.
