Also, someone please use that coupon code I posted and comment if you do. I'd rather not see it go to waste. (I know, I don't have many readers)
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The following comments were my thoughts on this article in the Brandeis University newspaper.
I used to think college was a place where we were taught how to think for ourselves. Unfortunately however, I'm beginning to feel like their main goal is indoctrination. Enter one of the most illogical student editorials I've ever read. It's a piece written by Jeffrey Dobereiner regarding the possibility of arming the police at Brandeis University.
1st off, accepting that it is possible you could be a victim of violence and preparing yourself accordingly is by no means "obsessing" or "living in fear" The author starts off by saying that Brandeis is "pretty safe" and thus arming the police is unnecessary. (This is the same argument made by the administration at UD as to why they won't arm our campus police) Amazingly his logic goes even further off the deep end from here.
"What threat could possibly strike our campus which would require our police officers to fire upon someone? Guns are tools of fear and intimidation, and the presence of officers wielding firearms will doubtlessly have a subduing effect on campus speech and student spirit."
Hmm, let me think really hard here for a second..... I seem to remember a threat on a campus about 6 months ago that would have required police to use a firearm. His name was Cho. Of course, I'm sure Brandeis is so secure that no violent criminal could ever walk onto the campus, and if one did Mr. Dobereiner would simply talk him out of hurting anyone, into putting down his gun, or find a pretty girl who could use her sex appeal to disarm the bad guy. Yes, that sounds like an excellent plan! Or maybe the police can yell "STOP!!" and if the bad guy doesn't comply, they'll yell "STOP!" again, in a louder, more demonstrative tone. After all, that worked well in the movie Judge Dredd right?
And is he seriously saying that the sight of a firearm on a cops belt will "have a subduing effect on campus speech and student spirit?" Yes, the sight of armed cops somehow magically makes everyone shut up. The sight of a holstered gun has such a subduing effect that once arrested no accused person EVER says a word to the police until they have a lawyer present. Right?
Jeff says that better mental health facilities are what we need not guns. I hate to ruin his dream world but not every violent person is a mentally unstable nutcase. Many violent criminals simply have no concern for anyone but themselves and no respect for human life. Not to mention Jeff's article talks of mental health for students, but what if the next campus shooter isn't a student? Student mental health facilities won't do a damn bit of good then will they?
"Ah, but, here’s what guns will do for us:
Thief one: “Man, let’s rob the cars on the Brandeis Campus. We can go unarmed because those cops don’t have guns. We’ll just run if we’re seen.”
Thief two: “Dude, I heard they’re going to start arming their cops with pistols.”
Thief one: “Well hell, I guess we’ll have to bring our guns, then!”
(High Five)"
So, by Jeff's logic arming the police is going to cause criminals to say "Gee, I guess I need to get a gun now" I suppose he thinks if all police and law-abiding citizens give up their guns the criminals will decide they don't want / need them either. Eureka, problem solved! Maybe he should write a letter to the Massachusetts state police explaining how their carrying guns is causing all the criminals to have to carry as well.
"I know how to stop the thief. Hire a security guard (or a ninja) to stand behind a tree near J lot. When they see someone about to shatter a window have them run out and throw a net on the criminal! Then they can call the Brandeis Police, and the problem will be resolved. In all seriousness, paying a couple of officers overtime to stake out the parking lot would be prudent."The mention of a Ninja, whether serious or not, makes me laugh. An unarmed security guard standing behind a tree in a dark parking lot? On second thought, maybe a ninja with a net wouldn't be that bad of an idea. I think they should hire Austin Powers to Judo chop the criminals into submission in J lot. That's about as realistic as a ninja or unarmed security guard being able to stop anyone (especially someone with a weapon) from committing a crime. Honestly, the campus PD are nothing more than unarmed security guards with a bit more legal authority.
"Overzealous security steps like giving pistols to our police officers don’t compensate for glaring oversights like a lack of sufficient cameras in J-lot, or low numbers of patrols."
Sure, arming the campus police is "Overzealous" That must be because nothing bad ever happens on campus right? So if nothing bad ever happens anywhere else in the state, I guess you'd consider it overzealous to arm State or local cops as well? What makes Brandeis such a mecca of safety compared to the rest of the State? The campus perimeter line must signify a fairy-tale place where use of force is never employed by an aggressor, and where everyone magically turns into a perfect angel incapable of harming a fly.
Go ahead Jeff, fix the lights and hire some ninjas since you're sure that'll make you safe. The rest of the country will continue to use things like guns that are a proactive means of keeping people safe. (of course guns would be far more proactive in the hands of potential victims and not in the hands of a stranger who hopefully comes to their aide in time.)
Then again, Jeff is so enlightened that he doesn't even want the strangers he naively expects to protect him to be armed. I wonder who he thinks is going to protect him and his fellow students?
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