Mo’ ODE Opinion Columnists, Mo’ Problems
You didn’t think we were going to let yesterday’s opinion piece in the ODE about concealed carry on campus slip by, did you? In case you missed it, columnist Truman Capps wrote about how icky guns are and how they shouldn’t be allowed on college campuses. Of course, he made sure to get his liberal credentials out in the open:
I live in Portland and listen to NPR, and my family owns a Prius and a Subaru (with a Volvo in our recent past) – perhaps it’s not surprising that I disagree with the notion that a campus full of armed students and staff is safer than an unarmed one. While I agree that people, not guns, kill people, I am also a firm believer in the familiar adage “Mo’ firearms, mo’ problems,” especially on a college campus.
It’s not so much that I completely disagree with Capps (although I do); it’s that his article is factually wrong on several counts. For example, at the beginning of his second paragraph Capps writes:
Currently, concealed weapon permit holders can take their guns with them everywhere except for government buildings, bars and college campuses.
There is no Oregon statute against concealed carry in bars or college campuses. According to ORS 166.370, possession of a firearm in a public building is a Class C felony, but one of the exceptions is “[a] person who is licensed under ORS 166.291 and 166.292 to carry a concealed handgun.” In fact, the only public buildings you are not allowed to carry a firearm into are courtrooms, airports and federal buildings.
The university system code against concealed carry is in clear contradiction of state law. I don’t even know where Capps got the idea that concealed carry is illegal in bars. Perhaps before he writes an article disseminated to the whole campus, he should do some basic research first. Or perhaps his editors should fact-check his stories for, y’know, blatant errors. Perhaps a retraction is in order.
I wrote an article last year about concealed carry on campus, which prompted this response from the ODE. Searching through the blog archives for “concealed carry” and “gun control” is also fun.
P.S. In his penultimate paragraph, Capps writes, “[I]f campus safety is such a concern, let Department of Public Safety have guns.” Can we nominate this for oxymoronic phrase of the year or something?
Well, at first I disagreed with him… but that was all based on the merits. Unfortunately, I had to look a little deeper – a little beyond the merits. That’s when I noticed he listens to NPR and his family drives a Prius. As such, he is clearly a progressive thinker – like myself. And I am not about to disagree with a fellow progressive thinker. That would turn me into George W. Bush! And I am not about to align myself with his war crime policies. I think the OC tends to focus too much on the actual arguments, which makes me a little uneasy. I’m all for free speech and what not, but I feel like you guys cross the line with your non-progressive kinds of speech. Look, independent is okay and all, but not if it’s, you know, too independent. And for Science’s sake, we live in Eugene – doesn’t it bother you that people may disagree with what you have to say? That scares me. Which is why I wear hipster clothing and thick, dark glasses frames. That way I don’t have to think about other people – just my own group. I don’t think people understand hipsters. And carrying a gun wouldn’t bode well with my group of friends.
[…] in today’s Emerald, laying to rest any notion that Truman Capps’ lamentable pro-gun control article was written or edited by anyone with even the slightest clue of what they were talking […]
Another request for the Gemerald- write a commentary that links killer guns to the global whining epidemic/apocalyptic floods all liberals are scared of.
Does anyone know what became of the Jeff Maxwell ordeal?
BTW, you guys should have ripped into this article being the lead story in the ODE the other day. It must be tough this year to choose which ODE material to lambaste with so many things to choose from. Having randomly seen this article as the lead story for a day, however, I think it’s a good example of how bad the ODE has gotten — I don’t even believe this year’s staff deserves the title as Ol’ Ditry. Just sad.
I hope Allie is able to turn things around.
This is one of those things I hate to argue about. It’s not because I don’t care about the issue. It is an issue I’m pretty passionate about. It’s just one of those arguments that you can’t win with logic or reason. There is a very simple solution to this for people who it really effects. Just say, “Yeah, sure! I won’t carry my gun on campus,” and then do it anyway.
If you’re a responsible, licensed gun owner there is no reason anyone will ever know you have it on you and everything will be fine regardless of your school’s policy because they won’t find out if you’re being responsible. Anti-conceal carry supporters will continue living in blissful ignorance of the fact that they come into contact with someone who is carrying a gun every day at the supermarket or the laundromat, and everyone will be happy. That or just don’t carry your gun for a few hours every day and everyone will should still be happy.
The end.
My team supreme, stay clean
Triple beam lyrical dream, I be that
Cat you see at all events bent
Gats in holsters girls on shoulders
If it were up to the ODE op-ed page, would there be either gats in holsters or girls on shoulders? I daresay not.
Might this interest you?
I can’t believe he states in one sentence that “mo guns is mo problems” and then goes on to end his piece with advocating the arming of DPS officers. Private citizens can’t handle it, but Mr. ticket writer, well he’s legit. Worship the state much?
Only a ridiculous twit would think that any one of the DPS officers would do anything to save students from an active shooter. Those silly fucks can hardly tie the laces on their clown shoes.
It’s not really “provoking controversy” when you publish an article in which you publicly advocate a position based on your understanding of a subject about which you’re demonstrably ignorant so much as merely “making a fool of yourself”, I think.
Frankly, I think Truman is brilliant, and I couldn’t agree more with his most recent article. At least someone around here has the guts to write about something that might actually evoke some controversy instead of just preaching to the choir.
Not only is this guy dead wrong on the issue, but to have an article so wrong on so many facts and not even have any fact checking done by the editors is pathetic. I mean in a world with google it amazes me how people can still write/print such garbage.
If a sword massacre did occur – by a student who happened to be a schooled ninja – would it be wrong to think it’s just a little bit cool?
All silverware should be removed from the EMU because some Belushi like character could go to the Fishbowl and set off some sickening butter knife massacre. This article is about as brilliant as the article last year about some drunken passed out idiot student being dumped in the campus cemetery. Perhaps Truman can follow up with a exclusive one on one interview with that lost soul.
There was a lovely letter to the editor in today’s Register Guard basically advocating the complete outlawing of firearms because even law-abiding people can’t be trusted to not go on a shooting rampage when they have a “bad hair day.”
“I was totally going to shoot the hell out of my Sociology class today, but there’s a University Conduct Code policy against guns on campus…SWORD MASSACRE IT IS!”
I love the kid… usually truman is pretty feckin good but his last article tore my heart out. It is incredible how level headed, intelligent people are susceptible to ignorance and fear bludgeoning their logic centers.
At least he somewhat recognizes that he has no understanding of firearms via admission of his generalized “ima libral” nievate. (although this may change if subaru grants my wish: a roof rack mounted SAW to differentiate my outback from its rather…bagel bumping… stereotype)
Anyways, a ban of concealed weapons, as it has been harped many times over, makes little to no sense– the people who pay no mind to laws will carry their weapons regardless. Obviously those angsty, self loathing sociopaths dont give a shit about popping their classmates, why would one think a university code/city legislation/possible federal laws against weapons on campus is going to stop him?
The fear of violence, while always important, clouds judgement to the point where simple logic just doesnt get through. Bleedin shame it is… I think it would be a great idea to have a “bring your firearm fearing friend to the shooting range Day.” Even if it doesnt blast some understanding into the dolt, you can laugh at their shitty groups and probably sore shoulders/scope bite.