The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, March 22, 1985, Page Page 6, Image 6
Page 6 ? March 22, 1985 Opinion THE GAMECOCK
Shot down
Gun control bill loses
ammunition in S.C. House
South Carolina legislators deserve to be in the
doghouse for their failure Wednesday to support a
bill that required a waiting period and baekground
check before buying a pistol.
The bill, which included an amendment, had the
backing of the National Rifle Association. It would
have prevented cities and counties from enacting
local gun control ordinances. Only the state law
v\ niilil lt:in' :in fflccl unnn l he nnri-hatpt. nf Iirr?
arms.
South Carolina legislators have made a mistake by
denying the importance of this bill, which would
have allowed those who wished to huv a eun a "cool
ing off" period.
I he State l aw Enforcement Division (Sl.ED)
would have conducted background checks, which
mav have caused a bit more work then, but in the
long tun. might have been a lot safer for the people
of Sout h Carolina.
Criminals may ha\e been able to get ar.ound the
mm control law bv ordering through the mail, but at
least those somewhat unsure of their decision might
have had the chance to change their minds.
It is true that those who want guns bad enough will
be able to get them, b.u in the meantime, the state of
South C arolina has a responsibility to keep guns
i mm iiiiJM' wiiu uit; it i L>|HMnu;K .
However, the legislators have shot this bill down.
And perhaps it's not entirely their own fault. After
all, they work for their constituents. It's too bad that
these same constituents, many of whom have
families, did not feel strongly enough about this bill.
The rights of the individual arc important, mosi
certainly. Alter all, this is what our country was bas
ed upon. However, those same rights, if they infring<
upon the rights (and lives) of others, should b(
thought over earefulK.
And government already infringes upon rights
l or instance, the lirst Amendment guarantees th<
right of the people peaceably to assemble, but befon
holding a march or rally, the people must apply for;
permit.
So the argument of opponents like Rep. Jame
l.ockemy, D-Dillon, who said the only thing thebil
does is take away rights from law-abiding eiti/ens, i
not supported In precedent.
* ? ? i i i-i * .u:, L:I
remaps Kcp. i.oc'Kcmy womu iioi uppiJM' inn un
il lie were in the position that President Reagan wa
in when John Hinkley tried to assassinate him.
National, state and local gun control is an impor
tant issue that 'he legislators of South Carolina hav
passed over with a 'uit of hypocrisy.
It seems that the decision of what do? would repre
sent ilie state was a bit more exciting and importan
than whether someone has a gun or not.
Perhaps if someone were to shoot a Boykin spanu
with a gun he'd bought an hour earlier, legislator
would think twice about the gun control decision.
rTTTTJ f m r: / __ : .. . iTTTT
y iviunsu r~urio, wire / uptmun euuu
Bloom County
IT CAN'T MtT
NOW ' (JNTtL AFTER
PINNER ?
I WINK , I WINK
^ 50 1 WT
W) \ &'
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'? .* Jr.'.? J l '* ' rf, v
Bloom County
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j U?J
I r SOLAK ' ! fcOCK(?OACH | f V
4 SYSUM , , J FARM i
Ml
Abortion is c
To the editor:
I was sorry to that Mr. Hull (The
Gamecock March 1) so thoroughly
misconstrued my letter concerning
Minister Ferguson's views on abort
tion, so 1 would like to reiterate my
position.
I've seen 'Silent Scream,' and I'm
not saying that abortion is wonderful;
I'm saying that it is a tragic matter that
should be handled by the man. woman
and physician involved and not by
Jerry Falwell or any other nosey
; Realistic pre
s lo the editor:
j As we prepare to spend billions of doll
j to suit our hunger for "national defense,
beings in Africa suffer starvation and dis
s of the worst drought-induced famine in
Snrelv ihi<> isn't I he most flattering
values as a nation. We ? our governmen
c d it ions in Africa long before now, knc
water, medical attention and shelter
worse. Official "emergency response," s
it text but this, continues to be inadequat
refugees. An estimated 1,000 die each c
,| Food is finally reaching many of the s
s only the barest beginning to what net
refugss families left everything behind. !*
dand shelter come high on the list, and
ones, especially children, die from expc
"" by
Hey your son
HMrs US 70 STAMP SACK
AWAY FROM THE BASEMENT
WHILE HE FINISHES
his scieNce project.
* J-&&T. I 1%.
_J Cfl. V M'.V I " I I \ A iT
j?v_
SKBT
,i? h ?vi? rr\ i
?# m?0
Letters
11 An *
noice, usi, st
hypocrite who isn't content in minding
their own business. My concern is that
one of our basic rights is oeing
threatened by the illogical and
paranoid reactionaryism which typifies
the Reagan administration's policies
(e.g. the higher drinking age and
"covert" aid to Latin American terrorists).
The "Pro-Life" movement
more resembles a moritorium on our
sexual freedom than it docs an intelligent
solution to the problem of unwnnfpH
nrpoanripv
~ f -e
igram for Afri
niohis Peonlc close ti
ars on more weapons particularly clothing (
millions of human is desperately needed
ease ? the aftermath much.
memory. There is plenty o
commentary on our Readers can write or
it ? knew about con- realistic (and generou
:w the lack of food. The most immedia
would become only jor relief organizatior
ubstantial in any con- grams already in pi:
e to the needs of the INTERNATIO
lay.
.urvivors, dim iooci is wa
:ds to be done. The
Medical care, clothing INTERNAT
many of the weaker
>sure during the cold ^
Berke Breathed
?n
nuw
FAR ?
\ CONNECTICUT. r
\ Thfi
f i
y- I Editor in Chief
/ ) ^ I Leslie J. Ounson
| T T>\ / Msnaplng Editor
I ?J John Oeiner
I J f Copy Oes* Chief
' ??J Ann Farmer
Berke Breathed tZtZ
a : ii/JiMM Entertainment Editor
W 'fl m Robert O'Connor
\ WELL, J f Asst. Eri. Editor
JUST PO NOT | Andy Duncan
UKB THIS... I Sporta Editor
| i Tracy Mixton
/^v'?y Asst. Sports Editor
/ y- Jot Sitan
i wire/upimon tnuor
f* M?fin Porto
Photo Editor
/ Jowph Gsrnett
OE/)l) \'J Ami. Photo Editor
Ko & f J?? R?ck?r
udent says
There is no one answer to when, between
the times of ovular fertilization
and childbirth, a human life begins. In
tact, the intrauterine device (IUD) is
actually a post-conception abortafacient.
Finally, Mr. Hull, my anonymity is
due to the fact that I do not take pride
in glorifying the "Pro-Choice"
philosophy, but feel that someone
must speak out against those of us who
arc too subjective for their own good.
Name withheld by request ?
" I I
ica neeaea
o (he scene say whatever can be sent ?
and donations to pay for shipping it) ?
. There are so many, and they need so
f opportunity to show our concern,
call their congressmen to urge a more
s) program of aid.
ic route, however, is to contact any ma\
or church denomination about aid proNAL.
CHURCH RELIEF F UND
P.O. Box 37068
ishington, D.c. zuuu
IONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE
i6 Park Avenue South
Mew York. NY 10016
(212-679-0010)
CARE
660 1st Ave.
Jew York, NY 10016
(212-656-3110)
Brian Graham &
Journalism graduate student
i Gamecock
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