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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 25, 1989)
Editorial ' Netraskan Cun Wagner, Editor C' / W \mv I du arils, Editoruli Puife Editor Jane llirt, \1drui$im; Editor ! vc Rood, \ssocuili' \ews Euittor Diana Johnson, VV ire run* Editor ( h’.n k (irccn. Copy Di 'k t hud l isa Donovan. Columnist Intervention needed Law would combat domestic assualts Sorry” isn’t enough tor acts of violence in domestic relationships among girlfriends and boyfriends, hus bands and wives and other family members. And “sorry doesn't comfort victims of domestic abuse when police officers arrive at the scene, only to quiet the screams and shouts heard behind closed doors. Many officers are not allowed to interfere with domestic affairs, but are instructed only ‘‘to keep the peace.” But it's possible that Nebraska state senators have made the task of protecting innocent folks from domestic violence a little easier. Under LB330, advanced 29-0 Monday following two hours of debate, law enforcement officials now have the nght to arrest a person — without warrant -- if the officer has reasonable cause to believe the person has committed a felony or misdemeanor, or has reason to believe such a person will not he apprehended unless immediately arrested. But what makes the hill so effective in domestic abuse cases is the clarification of the bill’s language brought about by its author. Sen. Carol Pirsch of Omaha at the urging of Sen. Ernie Chambers, also of Omaha. The bill gives officers those rights if a person is “threatening another in fear of imminent bodily injury.” Although it is the responsibility of officers to refuse to abuse certain rights granted in the bill, a policeman’s badge can also be a welcome sight when a family quarrel has become a domestic disturbance threatening the liveli hoods of both children and adults. Officers, even those with good intentions, have previ ously lacked authority and have been left somewhat helpless in curtailing domestic abuse. LB330, with its sidekick LB218, can help to create a more confident atmosphere when law enforcement officials are called to address these cases. And it may even encourage victims to have some trust in law enforcement. - Diana Johnson for the Daily Nebraskan Reader contests gun opinions Robert dale anil NRA member lirian Allen iDY April Id appar ntlv need reading glasses. They and the rest ol ihe pro-gun lobby need to realize that in us cn irety. the Second Amendment states: ‘A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security ol a free talc, the right ol the people to keep and bear arms shall not be in fringed.” < )pponents ol gun control seem to onvcnicntly never notice the first half of the amendment. Perhaps this s due to the serious doubt it casts apon the \RA s never-ending cries defending the ‘constitutionally uarantced” -ieht to keep and bear .»rins. The founders of our ( onstilulion ..ccopted the Second Amendment ecausc of their haired toward stand ne armies (such as the one we have uxlav, as opposed to a militia, or an army of the citizens). They reasoned (hat an army ol citizens would he less likely to oppress ihe people than would he an army ol professional soldiers. And ol course it would he ridiculous to place gun control laws upon a militia. Lo and behold, the founder had imperfect foresight, and today’s free society finds itself without a militia. In the absence of a militia (mentioned in the ignored half of the Second Amendment), d would seem that the Second Amendment simply no longer applies. Claims ol the “con stitutionally protected” right to keep and bear arms are then doubtful at best. What a shame it is that so many thousands ol Americans have died due m part to our country's foolish trepidations toward gun control law s other countries without such alti tudes have spared themselves this problem. Lei’s look at some num bers: In 19H.V Vs people were murdered by handguns in Japan. In the same year, there were eight handgun kill ing’s m Great Britain, mx in Canada, seven in Sweden. 10 in Australia and a mere 9,014 in the I'mted Suites. And that’s just handguns. I'm not even counting the people killed by the semiautomatic assault rilles, which our cili/cns so direly need to lend off any (gaspi communist inva sions. Gale and Allen go so far as to assert that removal ol this Second Amendment ‘constitutional protec tion ’ would lead to a neglect ol other protections such as tree speech, a free press, freedom ol religion and so forth. i (ion i know how' mey reached this conclusion. The Iasi time I checked, such tyranny wasn t par ticularly prevalent in Japan, Great Britain. Canada or Australia. And the unarmed citizens ol Sweden are more free than even ourselves when it comes to freedom of expression Hunters should be able to own their shot guns and hunting weapons. I simply have trouble with such weapons as conccalablc handguns and semiautomatic assault rifles. They have one purpose -- to kill people. The pro-gun lobby would be eager to point out dial most owners ol non hunting guns are responsible. They are, but there will always be those who arc not. In any case it seems ludicrous to claim that the rights ol such owners are more precious than the thousands of lives that those rights cost us every year. Joe l .uby freshman general studies Party affiliation is meaningless Chambers calls himself a Republican and no one bats an exe o. now Ernie Chambers is a Re publican. Several weeks ago the controversial suite senator from Omaha announced his switch of party allegiance to the OOP. The shill means little in terms ol state politics, since the Nebraska Legislature is, by stipulation, non partisan. It does say a lot, however, about the suite of bipartisan politics in the l ruled Suites. My initial response to the Cham bers transfer news was a slight chuckle and an under-the breath, “Oh. come on.” That Chambers should decide to check the column marked “R“ be side his voter registration signature means virtually nothing. In im six year sojourn in the suite ol Nebraska. Chambers has variously claimed to be a Democrat, an Independent and a standard bearer for the upstart New Alliance Party. So w hy not go lor the grand slam ’ m an oi mis suite capital son snoe. Chambers’ views have changed very little. And lor all his political partner changing he is no closer to being a Republican than Phyllis Schlally is to being a feminist I paused in mid-smirk. I have lor years claimed to be a Democrat, and it is there that im voter registration loyalties still he. Hut as time goes bv I find it more and more difficult to allihate m\ sell w nh outdated and olten falsified New Deal rhetoric. Net when I consider the messages to he sent in a change ol registration. 1 balk, and consider :m present affiliations the lesser ol two evils. Chambers has switched. I have not. Herein is exemplified the para dox ol contemporary American poll tics. Chambers exhibits the first ol two seemingly contradictory effects ol the current mess we call the two party system. Party affiliation says much too little about the one claiming u All that is required legitimately to claim one party or another as one’s home base is just that - claiming to belong. Chambers can call himsell a Re publican and no one bats an eye. In recent elections, followers ol political outlaw Lyndon LaRouche have won significant victories under both party banners, and no one even hints at inconsistency. I aRouche himself started out a Democrat and now calls himself a Republican, all the while spouting the same liscal poison. Southern Democrats and New Lngland Republicans have long felt much more comfortable on the opposite side ol the hall So what in the price ol partv asso ciation ’ And what is the message sent ’ I rosion ol strong party com mitments m lavorol winning the vote iii any ^ost (even deception .’* has led n recent years to a blurring ol party lines and an easy detection Irom one ode to another. It is a detection that > osts nothing not even .1hangc m s lew. Some laud this change as 'bipar tisanship. ' he stic K.\ sweet air ol ooperaiion iirrounding President •'lush s inauguration was enough to ai.ike one toss one s lunch. But the genius ul the two-parts s\ stem is c hoice. A hen borders disappear. so dex's choice \nd when voters hear asihes did m our recent presidential elec lion. Republicans touting environ mental and educational issues and Dcntexrals calling lor law and order and reduced spending, they |ust ‘Te n i sure what the choices are any more. So party affiliation is utterly meaningless and Chamhois is. cused lor what (most likely (amounts to a mindless publicity gesture. Why, then, my hesitancy concerning my own political fence-jump’ When I consider a switch of my own. I am taken aback hv the flipside of the paradox. Not only does party affiliation say too little it also says loo much. I bis is why I am uncomfortable with my Democratic lo\allies. I he staunch refusal ol my party to wake up and smell the proserhial collee has left me cold. The nominations of led Kennedy clone Walter Mondale and old line Massachusetts liberal Michael I)ukakis m the last twoeleUionsvsere signs that the success ol Republican loreign and domestic polk ics imm Nixon to Reagan had said nothing 10 the parly still bask me’ in its post depression success. I Ins i' not to mention my age old paitmg wuh the pari) on such issues a' .inoruon mi■ demand. I he limes, thee area-clung-1 mg; the Denuvratic parts. it is a-not. ■ Hut. toquote levs aimin' fiddler ■ on the Root." "on the other hand.. When I consideradiangeol point cal venue. I eonte lace to lace with the posxihiIns ol being iniinhered with those who conimualh oppose l-'un control m anv significant lorm any kind ol national health insurance or ..ssistance. and a strong armed ap proach to the problem til human ric’hts \ mlaiioiis worlilw ide. Mv choice seems to lv lhut tween hacking Marvisi lehelsorras* v. ist refvls; ret using unborn ha to i he right to live or Miller mg seniors the right 10 die: opposing economic recovery or government -sponsiu poverty relief. . lth,l I don't like it where I ain.hu ■ grass on the other side has vcl m ‘ ■ greener. I am seriouslv consider! 1 move to “Independent." a>mxw ' | can convince mysell that that is ■ the wimp’s way out. 8 Sfnni'lt is a uraduaU* student in philw*P f B .nH u ll^ilv Sihr.isk.in editorial column! ■ —ay—. mnz=— ——rz Letters ami guest opinions sent to the newspaper become the property o| i|u Daily Nebraskan and cannot be returned Anonymous submissions will not K 1 °,|SKli rt 'I l"f publication, i.oilers should inc,Ul,c'lt,c uiihor's name, year in school. m‘'l»r iml group aliiliation. if any. Kc '|ucsis I.) wnhhold names will not In: “'‘Sutnu nM.cr.al ... .Ik ''ANga| kan. <4 Nebraska I'nion. I4,H' I l.mcoln. Neb bS.SSS (MIS | - Signed stall editorials represent the official policy ol'the tail l<)XX|).n|v v braskan Policy is set by the UaiK Ncbras kan Editorial Board. Its members an < un Wagner, editor; Amy Edwards, editorial page editor; Jane Mm. managing alitor if k,HKl *»ssiKlate news editor: l isa J"nman- columnist; Diana lohnson. A ' i1,1*'' editor; and ( Ink k < ireen. c opv desk ehieI 1 dnonals do not necessarily reflect " the university t. employ ei s. ,, m Hoard ‘>1 the students or the M W- Daily Schraskan s ilie regents. who eslaMis to ja(|y I'uhlu ations Hoard t«» %U|K prtMliu lion ol the paper