Forum
Control guns with amendment
By Maurice |. Holland
I am in general agreement
with the editorial "Deadly
weapons fail as inalienable
rights" (ODE. |an. 25) lament
ing the irresponsible and often
tragically easy availability of
weapons in this country, espe
cially weapons such as the AK
47 which lack any legitimate
purpose in the hands of private
citizens.
But I take exception to the
editorial implication that those
who, like the National Rifle As
_Commentary
social ion. assert a constitution
al right to acquire and possess
weapons, enlist a "tired de
fense. stretched to absurdity.”
While counting myself
among those favoring much
more stringent gun controls, l
nonetheless think they have
been mistaken in concocting
ever more clever arguments
that the Second Amendment
does not mean what it clearly
stales: "(t)he right of the peo
ple to keep and bear arms, shall
not be infringed."
That is about as clear and un
equivocal a right as can be
found stated in the Constitu
tion. I am aware of the lan
guage of the amendment I have
omitted expressing the back
ground purpose for the right
|"A well regulated militia, be
ing necessary to the security of
a free state ... “}. but the right
is set forth independently of
the purpose
Although logically uncon
nected. it seems that most peo
ple who favor gun control also
favor the right to an abortion
The problem is that what these
people would restrict is literal
ly protected by the Constitu
tion. whereas the constitutional
right they would assert is no
where stated or even hinted at
in the text, and was not in fact
"discovered" until the Consti
tution was nearly 200 years
old.
To urge courts or legislatures
to ignore rights plainly provid
ed for in the Constitutional text
and also to create rights lacking
Letters
Little hope
Christopher Ramko’s letter
"Medication" (ODE, March 3)
made it apparent that once
again it must be pointed out
that the animal rights move
ment does not advocate or pro
mote saving non-human ani
mals instead of or before hu
mans.
Let me spell it out clearly:
Millions of animals are being
exploited and are suffering
each year for human benefit,
and many humans have bene
fitted. Unfortunately, however,
a great deal of animal experi
mentation does not lead to
medical breakthroughs but is
done out of simple curiosity or
for military purposes.
The amount of money going
into this unnecessary research
each year is astounding. Con
sider the possibilities, given
human ability to advance tech
nologically, if all the money
put into unnecessary research
was instead used on research
for alternatives to animals in
the laboratory. Within five to
ten years, we could very possi
bly eliminate the need for ani
mals in research.
I would like to add in ref
erence to Ramko's statement
that humans are "the only spe
cies known to adapt its envi
ronment to Itself” — that hu
mans certainly do manipulate
the environment, and just look
at the slate of the planet now
The exploitation of animals is
an integral part of the environ
mental crisis. Until humans re
alize they can’t place every
thing on the globe second to
themselves, there is lilt It; hope
|ill Freidberg
Anthropology
_Letters Policy
Letters to the editor must be limited to no more
than 250 words, legible, signed and the identification
of the writer must be verified.
__ Oregon Daily _ _
Emerald
I* O Rn« 315*. tuKrnr, I hrpin
The Oregon Daily Emerald is published Monday through Friday except during
exam week and vacations by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co at the
University of Oregon. Eugene. Oregon
The Emerald is operated independently of the University with offices on the
third floor of the Erb Memorial Union and is a member of the Associated Press
The Emerald is private property The unlawful removal or use of papers is pros
ecutable by law
Managing Editor
Editorial Co-Editor
Sports Editor
Graphic Artist
Entertainment Editor
Associate Editors
Editor Aaron Knox
Kelvin Wee Newt Editor
Paula Green
Gary Henley
Jarrell Jester
Frank Byers
Editorial Co Editor
Photo Editor
Supplements Editor
Night Editor
Carolyn l amber son
Thomas Prowell
James Marks
Darla Jackson
Carolyn Lamberson
Community: Betsy Clayton Student GovernmentyActivtties: Frale de Gunman
Higher Education/Administretion: Michael Drummond Politics Don Pelers
Reporters: Christopher Blair. Brian Bloch, Chris Bouneff. Polly Campbell Denise
Clifton. Ashley Conklin. Greg Hough. Jack Millikin. Brad Robertson Cami Swan
son
Photographers: Scott Maben. Tim Neff. Ted Shepler. Mark Yien
Advertising Seles: Ten Boring. Matt Collins. Tom Leech Kelly Maloney Scott
McAvoy. Tracy McCullough Amy Mittleslaedt Melissa Nelson. Vicki Reed. Ebse
Sharon. Kathy Smith. Scott Thorkildson Intern: Maureen Bernadelli
Production: Amy Barth. Alice Cannon. Jed Clark. Ellen Cross. Jim Finch Yvette
Gill. Jennifer Huey. Stephanie LaHaie. Scott Maben James Mason Wendy Mor
rts Angie Mum*, Janet Schober, Ted Shepler Scott Smith, Jennifer Viale Lee
Ann Weber. Ingrid White, Kelly Williams. Mark Ylen
General Staff
Advertising Director Susan Theien Assistant to the Publisher Jean Ownbey
Production Manager Michele Ross Advertising Coordinator: Sandra Daller
Classified Seles: Colynn McMath
Accounts Receivable. Circulation. Newsroom . 686 5511
Classified Advertising.....686 4343
Display Advertising___.....—.-.666-3712
Production. Graphic Services---.-.... 6664361
any textual support is to risk
playing fast and loose with the
central premise of our Constitu
tion. which also includes quite
explicit methods of amend
ment.
Those outraged by ready
availability of lethal weapons
should confront the problem
candidly and straightforwardly
by working for an amendment
to repeal the Second Amend
ment That would place both
responsibility and authority on
our legislatures to begin to get
this national disgrace under
some semblance of rational
control while at the same time
respecting the commands of the
Constitution.
There are many precedents
for amendments repealing or
modifying other provisions of
the Constitution which have
become archaic, obsolete and
harmful, such as those prohib
iting a federal income tax. pro
viding for election of U S. sena
tors bv state legislatures, and
permitting states to deny wom
en and blacks the right to vote
Maurice /. Holland is Dean of
the University Imw School.
r College Students:
FUNDS
are now available for your
EDUCATION
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN RECEIVING
Scholarships*. Fellowships*. Grams*
YOUR ELIGIBILITY IS GUARANTEED!
rtgiiriik** of financial ctatu* of acatkmiv performance
FOR MORfc INFORMATION CALL
* JM* 1 -800-283-8328
A NAIMlNAt M K\K I COMMII'TH)
It) MK.III H I 1>U AIION
■fto**- tun*!* |»*> Mil
V
rw ummh I IN\Vi |%| NtMiAAM
J
Tape duplication- —
instant cassette copies!
Quality stereo or monaural duplication
Check the prices today at your
Bookstore
ASK FOR IT!
Now available at your
favorite store or bar
Premier Distributors, Inc.
2600 PRARIE RD. EUGENE, OR 97402
PH. (503) 688-6161
:. Need A Poster Made?
( '.ill I nter IYrfcit (ir.iplih s, < ■/