Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Sense Lawmakers should consider waiting period for gun : It's time for this state's lawmakers to respond to the peopl and take a lone, hard look at South Carolina's eun laws whirl are entirely too lax. A poll conducted this spring by USC's College of Crimina Justice found that most South Carolinians favor a two-weel waiting period for prospective gun buyers. More than 60 percen believe that obtaining a gun in this state is too easy. The pol shows that South Carolinians are in agreement with the rest o America that something must be done about the proliferation o weapons in this country. Unfortunately, the General Assembly (like Congress) has cav ed in time and time again to the National Rifle Association an< other pro-gun lobbyist groups. S.C. lawmakers have defeated ; bill requiring a waiting period four times, and the sponsor of th< legislation blames the NRA for scaring lawmakers into turninj down this measure. The arguments presented over the years have sunken into th< realm of the pathetic cliche. Perhaps the most shopworn line o reasoning involves the Constitution, which pro-gun lobbyist: believe gives anyone the right to buy any gun at any time. Thi: interpretation of the Constitution is absurd. Lawmakers shoulc realize that reauirine a waiting neriod would not abridge th< rights of citizens, but such a law would make common sense anc save lives. NRA officials also like to talk about stricter punishments foi criminals. They say the problem is with the judicial system, bu they fail to see there are other difficulties that need to b< addressed. Perhaps the most ridiculous argument offered by the pro-gur lobbyists is the comparison of handguns to cars. So many peoph die in car accidents, they say, that perhaps America shoulc outlaw automobiles. But the same gun advocates do no remember that a license is required to drive a car. Such absurc analogies underscore the faulty logic inherent in the NRA'; rhetoric. No one wants to prevent honest citizens from owning guns tc protect their homes. At the same time, no one wants to see mor< senseless death caused by handguns. A two-week waiting perioc would stop psychopaths and criminals from buying handgun; and wreaking havoc. The people of South Carolina believe a lav is needed, and the legislators should listen to them, not the NRA. 3 t** t^SST!*#^ I^H lj^ ^dSl ^>T> OOPS ? I FEEL ..(L. AHOTHE* new v W S -N. BREEZE r%//?t > blowiajs ?sw^ jP ?8kl flWrnwi? | The Gamecock I 11 - II 11 Best Non-daily Collegiate Newspaper, Southeastern Region Society of Professional Journalists, 1987-88 Editor in Chief Photography Editor ANDY BECHTEL TEDDY LEPP Managing Editor Datebook Editor JEFF SHREWSBURY JAN PHILLIPS Copy Desk Chief Graphics Editor KATHY BLACKWELL MICHAEL SHARP Assistant Copy Desk Chief Comics Editor CARYN CRABB TRACY MIXSON News Editor Graduate Assistant MARY PEARSON ROBERT STEVENSON Assistant News Editors Adviser KELLY C. THOMAS PAT MCNEELY SUSAN NESBITT Director of Student Media Features Editor ED BONZA TODD HINES Advertising Manager Assistant Features Editor MARGARET MICHELS TOMMY JOYNER Production Manager Sports Editor LAURA DAY KEVIN ADAMS Assistant Production Manager Assistant Sports Editor RAY BURGOS CHRIS SILVESTRI Assistant Advertising Manager BARBARA BROWN Letters Policy: The Gamecock will lr> to print all letters received. Letters should be. at a maximum. 2S0 to 300 words lone. Ouesl editorials should not exceed 500 words. We reserve the right to edit letters for style or possible libel. The Gamecock will not withhold names under any circumstance. I a f s Racing Against Extinction.. 3 i ; Here's how y A Hollywood success story: I 1) Write a column about a director who's actually filming a flick very close by. Make sure he \ lives close enough to campus that he can be serenaded late at night by drunken students, t Make the column nasty. i 2) When the director calls, don't apologize for 5 writing it. 3) Write another column later on, one that has nothing to do with him, and ? although you ^ ran't tnnw it u/hilp u/ritino it nn<? that h<?'ll * like so much, he'll forget all about the nasty one. I This, then, is the hard part. 5 4) When he calls and says he wants to talk to j you, say OK. 5) Arrange an interview. 6) Buy a new watch. 7) Accidentally set your watch five minutes behind Eastern Standard Time. 8) Miss the first interview by about two seconds, probably walking by the director in the hall without even recognizing him, because he looks like just any other student, tired and in dumpy clothes. 9) Call the director's office and listen to the cute message on the answering machine with the director's daughter going "BEEEEEEEEP." 10) About three months later, as you write the column about "How to get in a movie . . realize that the process should probably have stopped ? for brevity's sake ? at No. 2. 11) About three months and three seconds later, decide "Who gives a damn?" 12) Set up another interview. [ Letters to th Confederates heritage, # _ South Ca merit honor tha reminder veteran sa To the editor: In sum: I am writing in response to an enliste< Sheldon Edwards' letter of April 14. Camden, That letter stated that Confederates Union wo deserved no praise or honor. The let- major bt ter contained the same dogma that states a Bi Yankees have babbled since the war. thirst, giv First, I feel it is my duty to I will n< i ? _t_ A _ ?- J i_ r ^ r J ~ 11 I eniignien cawaras on a lew items 01 auu an i concern related to this complex issue. Southern I shall do so in the course of this cor- Dixie or respondence with a polite and proper American; manner as humanly possible for a Southerne gentleman. God. Second, there was not a thing civil about the war. "Civil" suggests illegal insurrection. This was most cer- 1 tainly not the case. On Dec. 20, 1860, South Carolina nullified the United States and its intolerable laws. The A 44-f Southerners had the right to join in 1776, and they correctly had the right ~ to leave in 1860. If you think this is Til dishonorable to pursue individual freedom and rights, I know you would not recognize tyranny if you To the ed stumbled over it. In regar must adm During the time spent outside the ting freshi United States, there were many states with no cc that formed a confederation, which His verbal was a legal nation. They did this flag and legally and in the realm of the U.S. under it Constitution and intent. The Con- blow a lot federate States of America formed by shortcomi law because the U.S. laws at the time The wai were illegal, void and detrimental to fought o\ their pursuit of life, liberty, property Southern onH honninocc ?-~. uuu Iiuppiuvao. I 15,111 LU I CJ True, it was a tragedy that a war cial expoi occurred and blood was shed. But no fought ar matter, the fates were set on stage federate fl with the actors cast as heroes and of them w villains alike. Historians have a families, 1 solemn and responsible task to depict imminent which deserved what titles they were my. They to gain. The Confederate flag is a they treat< memorial, a monument. . .a small the war. A token of our appreciation to those both sides classic heroes of our "Troy," those they believ men, black and white, who fought least fou for states' rights and Southern fought womanhood and their nation. Praise, voluntarilj there can be no appropriate earthly As to th< praise. Only the gods can praise such pose in re valor and bravery. They gave it all. both black ou too can be ii jpl^ -____??????J t 1 13) Get your watch fixed. 14) Arrive about an hour early and start 1 writing really nasty columns about other people while you wait. < 15) Look up when the director comes in. 16) Be surprised when he says he's from New < York City, just like you are, and talk. \ 17) Not realizing it at the time, lose his phone i numbers for good. (You're upset about this. Not because you have anything to tell the director, i but because-you really dig calling up his answer- \ ing machine when you're snookered and listening to that little darlin' say "BEEEEEEEEP.") j 18) Wait about five months. 1 19) Go out one happy hour and get really, really, ah ? better not give Rep. Mike "NoVisit, Tax-On-Beer-And-Wine-Sales" Fair any 1 more ammunition here ? get really, really upset \ about the weather. 1 e editor mfederate flag stands for lives for their ideals is an h not hate. Take a poll in one. The symbolic meanii rolina, and you will find flag has been twisted and populace wants that North and South during the of worthy endeavor of years to spread ignorance icrifice. judice as you are proof of, I mation, Richard Kirkland, Whether it should fly c i Confederate soldier from Statehouse or not is an issi carried water to the dying people of this state and not unded under fire in a fierce May I suggest that you 1 ittle. On his monument your history more often a; Die verse: it tnine enemies oeiore you speaK oeiore you e them drink." stupidity blinds us all. ot be so kind. To Edwards bis kind, I state an old Crai] adage: Put your heart in Anthropology/histo get your ? out. For s we are born, but we are "f :rs only by the grace of v^rillClj fJJ. 1 h v. , distort hist' Stephen Vincent International studies senior To the editor: I am appalled and offe IpK / xft -f-lofY comments such as those by IVlV Oil 1 Id^ Edwards regarding the Cor ~ flag. In fact, this whole issu PrrOrS inteNigencei ^ is anothei example of how the uneduc distort historical realities tc itor: modate their own 20th d to Bing Edwards' letter, I preconceptions, it I am amazed they are let- The one thing resp Tien into college these days historians do know about h incept of American history. how much they do not kno I attack on the Confederate do not know, for example, the soldiers who fought what motivated each an is an obvious attempt to soldier who fought and die : of hot air to cover up his American Civil War. Histori ngs. have explored the question h between the states was not so by examining 19th centi 'er slavery, but over the dards and values, which ( states rights, such as the may come as a shock to man; gulate taxation on commer- were different from those of ts. As for the men who time. Thus, such anom id died under the Con- Southerners fighting for th ag, the very large majority and wealthy blacks ownin ere fighting to protect their cannot be explained by a s lomes and states from the "good vs. evil" fairy tale co invasion of the Union ar- history, were not traitors, nor were So flag wavers and flag \ id as such during or after you want to distort historj nd the men who fought on your own needs, read up 01 did so willingly for what Stalin or join the Nazi Part} ed in. This also includes at want to study history to r black regiments that yourselves, come over to th< for the Confederacy department and stay awa t. journalism, e Confederate flag, its purpresenting the brave men, Gordon and white, who gave their Graduate student I-/ *4^ * * ><? ^ ** n the movies 20) Staggering around and unable to walk a itraight line because you're so upset about the veather, go from the first bar to the second. Walk by the director, his wife and two friends, lot realizing who they are. 21) Have one of your delightful companions ;ay you walked right by the director, his wife and wo friends. Go back, bringing your companions .vith you and introduce them to the director, as if ^ou were his best buddy in the whole world. 22) Bore the director for about 10 minutes vhile he tries to eat. 23) When you're about to leave and the direcor says, "Oh, would you like to be in my novie," say "Sure, when?" 24) This is most important. Ask "How iiuch?" 25) When he says you get to do it for free, iecide, "Who gives a damn?" 26) Try to figure out a way to milk a crummy :olumn out of a probably sincere offer on your vay back to your delightful companions and a ecently shaven friend. 27) Decide it can't be done, sit down and eet eally, really, really, really upset about the leather. 28) Start singing "California, Here I Come," ust like Ricky Ricardo, Lucy, Fred Mertz and Ethel. 29) Remember you hate that song. 30) Tell your Dad, don't flinch when he laughs ouder than he has in 18 years and smile when he ^ells to your mom, "He's going to be in Bobby Benson's movie." .. / * >?' n . ^ v iflH iPIPfs j? w "gonhe Right of choice used by 9 pan ioo must remain and preEdwards. >ver the To the editor: le of the This is in response to the article, yourself. "Tens of thousands rally in favor of ook into abortion." The title of that article is nd think wrong. r shining Nobody likes the idea of abortion. Those people were not rallying in favor of abortion as the headline img Hadley plies. These people were rallying in ry senior favor of choice. Pro-choice is not the same tnmg as pro-aoortion. People n who favor choice with regard to the abortion issue favor the individual citizens' right to make their own choice about their bodies and ?/ pregnancies. If the Supreme Court were to overturn Roe v. Wade, which gave innded by dividuals the right to abortion, it Sheldon would be a serious step in the wrong lfederate direction. Making abortion illegal le insults will not stop abortion. Women will r shining continue to have abortions even if it ated can is illegal to do. Instead of going to ? accom- sanitized and safe health clinics as century they do now, women will be forced to look for alternatives. These alteronsible natives are things like coat-hanger listory is abortions and dirty, back-alley aborw. They tion houses. The only women able to precisely have safe abortions would be the d every rich, who could afford to fly to d in the foreign countries where abortions are ians who legal and performed by trained ave done medical practitioners, iry stan- The abortion issue is one of the and this most important issues facing the y of you) American public. The pro-choice facour own tion has the support of the majority alies as of the American people. The e Union American public should not let the g slaves ultra-conservative elites and their implistic allies, the sick people who bomb mcept of health clinics and terrorize the American population, make this laters, if decision for all Americans. Making i to suit abortion illegal would be a grave 1 Joseph mistake. It would put pregnant /. It you women s lives in jeopardy, and it educate would constrict the individual e history freedoms that are outlined in the ly from Constitution and make America great. L. Jones Jonathan Dorsey , history Political science freshman