Spring Break
OP-ED: Guns and campus don't mix well
by Levenson, Brian
Op-Ed | 9/25/07
Posted online at 9:28 PM EST on 9/24/07
/ Last updated at 1:24 AM EST on 9/24/07
Brandeis police have exceptional response times; parties are broken up before they even begin, and cars are ticketed before the parking brake is pulled. That is, unless you are locked out of your room in a towel, in which case you would be lucky to be back inside within the hour. Following the tragedy at Virginia Tech, I discussed the issue of whether or not to arm our police officers with a few suitemates and, unsurprisingly, all three of us have very different views on gun control and how much power police officers should have. However, we all agreed that the Brandeis officers should not be armed. And so I was dismayed to read University President Jehuda Reinharz's announcement two weeks ago that the police will indeed be armed.
I do not feel that the Brandeis police officers are fully committed to the safety of Brandeis students. An anonymous police officer told the Justice last April that "such an emergency [as at Virginia Tech] would likely spur officers to leave campus rather than act unarmed." Does this mean that we are only paying the police to give us parking tickets, disperse parties and unlock our doors, assuming it's not snowing too hard to walk to Stoneman?
We trust the police officers to protect us should the need arise. The Department of Public Safety's Web site says, "The University police are responsible for the protection of life and property." It would be nice to see this same dedication reflected in our police officers' words and actions.
There are many ways to protect human life in a crisis situation; running away isn't one of them. This is not to say that I expect an officer to single-handedly confront a raging gunman. But to say that an emergency might cause the police to flee is astonishing. If the officers are more likely to flee with their tails between their legs than stand and protect the Brandeis community, why should we trust them with guns?
That said, unexpected, unstoppable events do occur. I do agree that guns would make it possible for our police to control and end situations more efficiently and quickly.
I do not feel that the Brandeis police officers are fully committed to the safety of Brandeis students. An anonymous police officer told the Justice last April that "such an emergency [as at Virginia Tech] would likely spur officers to leave campus rather than act unarmed." Does this mean that we are only paying the police to give us parking tickets, disperse parties and unlock our doors, assuming it's not snowing too hard to walk to Stoneman?
We trust the police officers to protect us should the need arise. The Department of Public Safety's Web site says, "The University police are responsible for the protection of life and property." It would be nice to see this same dedication reflected in our police officers' words and actions.
There are many ways to protect human life in a crisis situation; running away isn't one of them. This is not to say that I expect an officer to single-handedly confront a raging gunman. But to say that an emergency might cause the police to flee is astonishing. If the officers are more likely to flee with their tails between their legs than stand and protect the Brandeis community, why should we trust them with guns?
That said, unexpected, unstoppable events do occur. I do agree that guns would make it possible for our police to control and end situations more efficiently and quickly.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 24
David Kay
posted 9/25/07 @ 8:18 AM EST
That is one of the most asinine things I have ever read. Gun are already on campus--in the hands of criminals.
If this is the thinking of our future leaders, our society is doomed
David Robertson
posted 9/25/07 @ 1:04 PM EST
"An anonymous police officer told the Justice last April that "such an emergency [as at Virginia Tech] would likely spur officers to leave campus rather than act unarmed. (Continued…)
David Robertson
posted 9/25/07 @ 1:07 PM EST
"David-
You are welcome to your opinions and I'm glad that you express them, but our campus is not a violent or dangerous place. In my last three years here, the most violent crimes committed have been fist fights on occasion. (Continued…)
james sanders
posted 9/25/07 @ 1:50 PM EST
Wow...just wow.
Talk about putting up a straw man and even failing to knock that down.
So let me get this straight...because police officer would run away from an armed assailant due to their having no way of defending themselves you would deny them the one thing that would DEFEND them in that situation? Wow. (Continued…)
Michale Caine
posted 9/26/07 @ 12:39 AM EST
I would recommend to Brian the essary, "A Nation of Cowards" by Jeffrey R. Snyder.
Specifically:
"Is your life worth protecting? If so, whose responsibility is it to protect it? If you believe that it is the police's, not only are you wrong -- since the courts universally rule that they have no legal obligation to do so -- but you face some difficult moral quandaries. (Continued…)
Ted Fuhrmeister
posted 9/26/07 @ 2:12 AM EST
I have to say that this article is a waste of space. Michale Caine is correct, the police are Not responsible for your safety or your life. These so called arguments the auther has made are totally pointless with no facts to back them up. (Continued…)
fsilber
posted 9/26/07 @ 7:37 AM EST
I think it's reasonable not to want to put up with an occupation force or Standing Army -- which is what a professional police force is; reducing dependence upon this was the Founders' key motivation for the 2nd Amendment. (Continued…)
John Farquhar
posted 9/26/07 @ 9:35 AM EST
I'm sure if you check, Virginia Tech is not a whole lot different than your campus.
Denial will get you killed.
I would suggest that you should do some research, I'd like to recommend LT Col Dave Grossman's work. (Continued…)
Chauncey Bennett
posted 9/26/07 @ 11:52 AM EST
While I respect your right to print your views, I submit you are not thinking clearly. Having unarmed police is an excercise in futility. They are NOT a deterrent to criminals if criminals know if they have a weapon the police will retreat to a safe distance and call other police, who have the same arrest powers, but take twice as long to get there! I wonder what your parents would think if you were being assaulted with a weapon, and you had to wait for a proper response because your police officers were not properly equiped to respond? Your logic is flawed by your view of police on your campus. (Continued…)
anonymous
posted 9/26/07 @ 12:43 PM EST
As a proud Brandeis alum, I am embarrassed by the lack of respect this piece showed towards the Brandeis police. I served on BEMCo for three years, including one as a crew chief, and I depended on the Brandeis police to assure my safety during my time on-scene. (Continued…)
Post a Comment