Monday, October 08, 2007

Pop Quiz On The Second Amendment

I ride my bike past a car every day that has a bumper sticker that reads: "Gun Control Means Use Both Hands". I find this sadly ironic, since that car is parked across the street from the spot where one of Oakland's many shrines for teenagers shot dead has been recently been refreshed with new mylar balloons and candles stuck in Remy Martin bottles. It is here where I wonder if the framers of the Constitution had this place in mind when they came up with that whole right to bear arms idea.
I know that any discussion about gun control will necessarily include the argument of protection. When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns - or so goes the old saw. Last time I checked, however, the outlaws have guns now and guns are still legal. By this line of reasoning, making rocket launchers legal should be an excellent deterrent for terrorism.
Okay, maybe that's being too flippant. What is there to say about Shirley Katz? As a high school English teacher, Shirley insists she needs to take her pistol with her to work because she fears her ex-husband could show up and try to harm her. She's also worried about a Columbine-style attack. This would make her a viable first response if there was any trouble. In Oregon, a sheriff can grant a concealed-weapons permit to anyone whose criminal record is clean and who completes a gun-safety course. Shirley's got one of those, but her school district is more than a little bit concerned. They believe that employees and students are safer without guns on campus. Some South Medford students, where Ms. Katz teaches, say they are uncomfortable with the idea of a teacher carrying a gun, especially since they cannot bring even scissors to school.
Even if she wins her lawsuit, Katz said, she may not bring the gun to school. "The whole point of carrying concealed is no one should know you're carrying," she said. "So I feel like my carrying concealed on campus now sets me up as a target." Pity the poor freshman who uncorks a spitwad at Ms. Katz.

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