The Pace Press: Volume 67, Issue 6

December 10, 2015

Est. 1948

Volume 67 | Issue 6

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NEWS

Shooting at San Bernardino Shooting takes 14 lives at holiday party

December 10, 2015

We remember the victims of San Bernardino Robert Adams, 40 Married his high school sweetheart. Worked as a construction inspector. He and his wife grew up in Inland Empire. He is survived by a 20 month-old daughter.

Isaac Amanios, 60 Immigrated to California in 2000. Shared a cubicle space with Farook. His wife works as a registered nurse. He is survived by his three children, aside from his wife.

Bennetta Betbadal, 46 Came to America to escape extremism in her home country, Iran. First lived in NY, but moved to CA. Survived by her husband and three children.

Harry Bowman, 46 A contributor to CREATE, an organization that analyzes terrorism and national security. Survived by two daughters.

People console one another outside the emergency room entrance to Loma Linda Medical Center. latimes.com asia letlow Features Intern A holiday celebration turned tragic occurred for several staff persons convening at Inland Regional Center on Dec. 2nd, 2015 in San Bernardino, California.

Of the 80 people in attendance at a holiday party, 14 died and 21 were injured by the mass shooting executed by Syed Rizwan Farook, and his wife, Tashfeen Malik. The remaining fifty managed to flee the room out of range from the shooters, securing themselves in a nearby hallway. Once help arrived, they were reluctant to come forward, but eventually were lured out when assured that they were being helped. Responders were shocked by what they saw. “It was unspeakable, the carnage we were seeing,” noted Mike Madden, one of the first officers to respond to the scene (latimes.com). Smoke surrounded the room and the fire alarms had gone off.

Sources cite that the pair fired between 60-80 rounds of ammunition, leaving a bomb behind. SWAT team personnel aided the police in the search for the shooters, who resided in Redlands, a nearby residential neighborhood close to San Bernardino. The couple was found at their home and engaged in a shooting battle with the police, which ended with their deaths. The couple had carried Memorial ceremonies have already taken place for those who have been lost, and their identities have become known as more information has surfaced over the past few days. Victims range from their mid twenties to sixties. Some were not aware that their relatives had been shot. Such was the case for Nat Berhe, New York Giants safety, who was not aware that his cousin was one of the 14 fatalities. “Just got word that one of my cousins was among the 14 killed yesterday, I’m so sick right now,” he tweeted on December 3. “The true terror is that this keeps happening. I still can’t believe it. Take a moment to think of the families hurting right now,” he later wrote. Several other families continue to live with the shock of the sudden losses they have faced as a result.

Speculations over the tragedy note that the shooting

was ISIS affiliated, but this has sparked some skepticism.

The FBI has officially begun to investigate the motives behind the shooting. Thus far, it has been determined that while it is not likely that Farook and Malik were part of a bigger organization, the pair was referred to as being self-radicalized by their religious beliefs, being inspired by ISIS to carry out their attacks. A source told NPR that Malik officially devoted herself to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi under a Facebook account under an assumed name, to protect her anonymity (npr.org).

However, The White House released a statement on December 5th that there was no indication that Malik and Farook were part of a terroristic organization on a broader level. Obama stated, “We are strong. And we are resilient. And we will not be terrorized.” (npr.org) The home of the shooters carried several rounds of ammunition, with assault rifles and handguns as well as bombs. Their materials were purchased legally.

Farook was a citizen of the United States. He was an environmental health specialist with the San Bernardino health department, and had worked there for five years.

He was at the party but left, returning with his wife in tow.

Malik was born in Pakistan and came to the US on a visa, subsequently becoming a citizen.

The occurrence of such tragedies have inspired questions concerning the state of gun laws. “Too many of these statements [are about] keeping prayers in for [the victims of] these shootings, or wanting to say something about change but not making any change.

There should be change happening,” said sophomore Nasser Al-Shamsi.

It has also painted a skewed picture for the Islamic faith. “The existence of ISIS makes it hard not to stereotype all Muslims as terrorists, but the distinction is important for the safety of the Muslim population and integrity of Islamic history,” noted sophomore Alexandra Muino.

The course of these events have put America into debate once more on the state of gun control, and no real answer has been reached, despite the staggering amount of lives that have been taken.

Sierra Clayborn, 27 A 2010 graduate of UC Riverside. Enjoyed her job as a health specialist. Described as energetic and thoughtful.

Survived by her sister and boyfriend.

Juan Espinoza, 50 Started off in the Department of Corrections during his time at California State. Treasured education, and was well known for his genial personality.

Aurora Godoy, 26 A devoted mother to her son, Godoy had been married to her husband for 3 years.

Shannon Johnson, 45 Shielded a co-worker, Denise Paraza during the shootings.

Larry Daniel Kaufman , 42 Had a boyfriend, Ryan Reyes, with whom he kept contact during the shootings.

Damien Meins, 58 Described as “caring and jovial” by coworker Juan Perez. Had previously been a physical education teacher at St. Catherine’s School, located in Riverside.

Tin Nguyen, 31 Moved to the US at the age of 8. Graduate of California State, Fullerton. Planned to get engaged to San Trinh, her boyfriend, in 2016.

Nicholas Thalasinos, 52 Husband of Jennifer Thalasinos for 14 years. Was a devout Jew, and dependent friend to many.

Yvette Velasco, 27 Described as intelligent and ambitious by her family.

Was one of four daughters to Robert and Marie Velasco.

Michael Wetzel, 37 Father to six children, and wife, Renee Wetzel.

December 10, 2015

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Opinion: How guns shaped America’s cultural identity Sarah hartzell Arts Editor

Great Train Robbery” in 1903, shootouts, posses, and bandits became synonymous with early American film and have gone on to produce some of America’s biggest movie stars. Many of the most popular and acclaimed films of the 20th century have come from this genre— “The Magnificent Seven,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance

The perceived American identity is one that lends itself particularly well to our love of guns. Our history and media might support the idea that a man with a gun—and yes, it is almost always a man—is the ultimate example of American values, but the truth is that this mythology of Americana is entirely out of touch with current reality.

Even so, the archetype of the gun-toting, freedom-loving American is so entrenched in our culture and is still presented as truth at every turn that it makes it nearly impossible to separate the current state of our country from our cultural attachment to guns.

This identity is one that has been created by Americans, for Americans, since our country was founded. Revolutionary War heroes and political figures were some of our first cultural icons. Citizen-soldiers with their personal firearms—or what became known as militias, that oft-debated term— were largely responsible for winning the war and as such ecame the models for American service and duty in the nation’s Magnum Force/Warner Brothers infancy. These units were essentially a microcosm of what became distinctly American ideals: individualism, Kid,” “Treasure of the Sierra Madre,” “Stagecoach,” and self-reliance, liberty, justice, resourcefulness, progress.

“The Searchers,” just to name a few. The protagonists In these uncertain early days of our country, guns of these films, while not always acting lawfully, were were the tools that had brought these values into our portrayed as pillars of American values: self-sufficient, lives and were the way they would be kept there. just, free as the wind. And, like true frontiersmen, their Soon our geography expanded west and so too did Americanness was defended against threats by their gun. our sense of self. American history and legends dating Eventually, the locale shifted from the West to the back to 18th century lore have served up the Wild West cities, but the archetype stayed the same. The cowboy as the true America, the place where freedom truly lies. became the outlaw became the gangster, the second of Frontiersmen tamed the land and its beasts in pursuit truly American film genres. Disillusionment with law of life, liberty, and property. Pioneers had to defend enforcement and the government manifested itself in themselves from the threat of foreign armies and Native those who stood up to power, even in their unlawful and Americans, as was their right and responsibility as illicit ways. While the physical image of the American Americans. Authors like James Fenimore Cooper and folk may have changed—John Wayne and Clint Eastwood tales like those of Davy Crockett glorified these mavericks gave way to Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro—what the they and put their adventures on paper to be idealized by represented remained the same. Even when committing generations to come. And guns were essential to selfcrimes and doing ostensibly immoral things, the gangster preservation and warding off the dangers of the Wild West. protagonist sticks to a rigid code of honor, one that often But we kept expanding beyond the western plains, all aligns with basic American principles. The gangster the way out to Hollywood, and these values quickly became exacts violence in defense of himself and his family, of codified into every aspect of our history and culture. The his business and his independence. Gangsters arguably urban development of the late 19th and early 20th centuries exemplify the spirit of the second amendment even more coincided with—and arguably generated—the creation of than the Western hero; the use of the gun to prevent American mass media. The closing of the frontier and the government from infringing on the power and freedom rise of cities changed the social fabric of America; the land of the individual and to seek justice where the system and its many threats were no longer a concern to a large fails are integral to the motivation of most gangster films. sector of the public. Industrialism and modern innovations The stars of these movies became icons of American made personal security easily accessible and hunting media and, through it, Americanness itself. What George was not the only means of subsistence. Simply put, a Washington and Revolutionary War heroes were to the gun was no longer necessary for the average American.

18th century John Wayne and Al Pacino are to the 20th.

At the same time, the upstart American media Fictionalized forms of American values are glorified into was in need of narratives to sell to the public, through model citizens because of what they represent, regardless radio, television, and film. Taking cues from icons of of the means they use to enact their values or their relevance popular American literature like Mark Twain, “Uncle to real life. Whether or not it was realistic, the gun was Tom’s Cabin,” and Thoreau, early media told the stories seen as necessary to what these men represented; it was not of city folk, but of the fabled middle-American, the tool of the trade, if the trade was being an American. the frontiersman, the cowboy. Radio and TV icons The problem with guns in the 21st century is that like Red Ryder and the Lone Ranger took over the they are assumed to still represent American values when airwaves, fighting outlaws and traversing the west. the truth is they are now entirely antithetical to the values Hollywood held onto this image of Americana they once defended. Guns themselves are not values; guns, particularly strongly, entrenching it into popular American historically and theoretically, protect values. Blame it on film genres. Most notably is the Western, arguably the population growth or advancing technology or even solely most uniquely American form of media. As early as “The on the perpetrators of violence, but guns do not secure

freedom or protect American principles anymore. Whether it is out of a nostalgia for a fading Americana or out of sheer laziness in storytelling, the media have continued to present guns as tools of individualism, self-reliance, liberty, justice, resourcefulness, and progress for decades after that correlation stopped being realistic. As the mass media

expanded, the line between fiction and reality blurred.

The man and the representation became interchangeable; Charlton Heston became president of the NRA and Clint Eastwood talked to a chair at the RNC Convention. It became too easy to see the actors as their characters and, as a result, to identify with what they represent. But the fact of the matter is we are not these people because these people do not exist and cannot exist in our world. We are not minutemen throwing off our oppressors. We are not Daniel Boone taming the Wild West. We are not the Lone Ranger and Tonto fighting outlaws. We are not John Wayne trying to outrun the black hats. They might be effective in their world, but they have no place in our world.

Thinking in terms of our current society in the year 2015, the qualities of individualism, self-reliance, liberty, justice, resourcefulness, and progress are most accurately applied not to gun-toting vigilantes but to technology and innovators. Cybersecurity has replaced defending your property. Freedom, justice and democracy are being defended by groups like Anonymous, movements like Black Lives Matter that are strengthened by the internet, and grassroots organizations. The only thing the NRA has done in recent years is take our democracy hostage for its own gain, with complete disregard for the blood on its hands. Self-sufficiency, to the extent that it is even possible anymore, is a result of new ideas, like app development and startups companies.

Guns in the modern age are the opposite of American values: intimidation, mob mentality, retrogression.

America is not what it used to be, nor should it be anymore. We would be doing ourselves a disservice to cling to the past and its artifacts without reevaluating why we are so bound to them. The long love affair that America has with guns is not entirely without merit. It is true that for many of America’s formative years guns were a reflection and instrument of our values. But we have outgrown our guns. We do not have to abandon or vilify our past to recognize that it is not an accurate representation of who we are now. We can enjoy our beloved American icons without perpetuating their outdated depictions of what it means to be American. But we also owe it to ourselves to accurately depict the current state of our country, because if all we see is the past, we may not make it to the future.

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December 10, 2015

Attack on Planned Parenthood Abortion controversy escalates to shooting in Colorado Springs

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maximilliano onofre Executive Editor Just weeks before the Senate passed a bill that would defund Planned Parenthood, a small community in Colorado faced their own terrors as their local Planned Parenthood was the victim of a shooting.

On Nov. 27, 2015, Colorado Springs, CO, made national news as Robert Lewis Dear became known as a gunman who killed three people, including a veteran police officer, at a Planned Parenthood clinic.

The shooting and subsequent standoff lasted five hours, with not only the victims who passed away, but also a total of nine other people who had to be transported to the hospital with gunshot wounds. Although the injured were reported in good physical condition by the end of the night, the emotional injuries shook the community.

Peter Carey, Colorado Springs Police Chief, commented on the ordeal, stating that it was a “very, very difficult afternoon...all that I can say is my heart is broken.”

Dear, who was a native of North Carolina and lived in a camper in the mountain town of Hartsel, CO, was described by The Washington Post as a “malcontent who drifted from place to place.” Neighbors described him as a “loner,” who they kept away from their kids.

“He was the kind of person you had to watch out for…. It’s hard to explain but he had a weird look in his eye most of the time,” said one neighbor, while another noted his mental instability.

The neighbor had heard him talk about his alleged work with the government. “He said he worked with the government, and everybody was out to get him, and he knew the secrets of the USA. He said ‘Nobody touch me,

because I’ve got enough information to put the whole U.S. of A in danger,’” the neighbor said. “It was very crazy.”

When he described himself to the police however, Dear reported that he was a “self-employed art dealer.”

The shooting began on the morning of the 27th, when the first police call about an active shooting was made from inside the clinic. Soon, the area and street were put on lockdown. By 1:26 p.m. three officers were confirmed to be injured, as well as several civilians.

If we truly care about thisif we’re going to offer up our thoughts and prayers again, for God knows how many times, with a truly clean conscience- then we have to do something bout the easy accessibility of weapons of war...”

-President Obama

Although the situation was “very active” according to the police, they could not confirm that Dear was inside the building. More shooting occurred, and the victims were transported to nearby hospitals, while inside the civilians were finally evacuated into a SWAT vehicle

and transferred to ambulances by 3:43 p.m. By 4 p.m. the police could confirm that the shooting not only began within the clinic, but that Dear had brought “items” inside the building that were suspected to be explosives.

Dear was finally removed from the building at 4:52 p.m. after the authorities were able to get him to surrender after nine people were injured, including five police officers. By the end of the night, the crews of officers had searched for all “items” and civilians and were able to confirm the casualties of one police officer and two civilians who all died at the scene.

By the next morning, Dear was identified as the shooter, but police said they could find not motives to prompt the shooting. However, sources with law enforcement knowledge stated that Dear kept declaring, “No more baby parts.” The source told NBC News that Dear said many things, and that the statement may have played a small part in the decision to target Planned Parenthood, as Dear also mentioned President Barack Obama at times.

Soon after the shooting, Dear appeared in court on Nov. 30, and is possibly facing the death penalty as a maximum sentence, and a minimum penalty of life in prison. During his court appointment, Dear said very little, answering the judge’s yes-or-no questions. Dear was not sentenced, and his public defender, Dan King, has asked to see the place of the shooting. He will return to court on Dec. 9.

“This is not normal. We can’t let it become normal,” President Obama said the morning after the attack. “If we truly care about this — if we’re going to offer up our thoughts and prayers again, for God knows how many times, with a truly clean conscience — then we have to do something about the easy accessibility of weapons of war on our streets to people who have no business wielding them.”

1 2 , 0 0 0 D E AT H S

Every X is equal to 250 deaths by guns in 2015 The total number of deaths as of Dec. 7th: 12,364 Children under the age of 17 that have been killed or injured due to gun violence: 3000+ Police involved incidents of gun violence: 3215 Home invasions: 2607 Self-defense: 1584 Accidents as a result of gun violence: 1601 Source gunviolencearchive.org

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THE PACE PRESS

December 10, 2015

OPINION AND EDITORIALS

eDitorial BoarD christian Gomez Editor maximilliano onofre Executive Editor ashley spencer Advertising Manager chase Ballas News Editor sarah hartzell Arts Editor natalie carolina condrillo Features Editor Deniah cagara Graphic Design traci thomas Social Media Dr. stephanie hsu Faculty Consultant

The Pace Press is the student newspaper of Pace University’s New York City Campus.

It is managed and operated entirely by members of the student body as it appears above.

The Pace Press welcomes guest editorials and letters from students, faculty, administration and staff.

The Pace Press reserves the right to not publish any submitted material, both solicited and unsolicited.

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

– The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

All submissions must include the author’s full name and contact information.

The Pace Press 41 Park Row, Rm. 902 New York, NY 10038 www.thepacepress.org editor@thepacepress.org Copyright 2014

Disclaimer: These opinions are expressed by contributors (students, faculty, administration and staff) to The Pace Press. These opinions are solely those of the individual writers and do not reflect the opinions of The Pace Press, the members of The Pace Press staff or Pace University. The Pace Press is not responsible and expressly disclaims all liability for damages of any kind of arising out of use or relevance to any information contained in this section.

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December 10, 2015

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ARTS

Amy and Chuck Schumer tackle gun violence

Schumer has called for stricter gun controls following a shooting at a screening of Trainwreck

Andrew Burton/Getty Images Ashley Spencer Advertising Manager On the heels of yet another shooting tragedy actress and comedian, Amy Schumer took to twitter Thursday to implore followers to take a stand and cast their vote against gun violence. Schumer, who is the cousin of New York State politician Chuck Schumer, began championing for stronger gun legislation in August after a shooting that killed two young women attend the premiere of her movie, Trainwreck in Louisiana. Since then Schumer has been at the forefront of the four other shootings that have taken place, solidifying her anti-gun stance with her #AimingForChange campaign. The social media campaign support the Schumer’s proposed gun control bill that calls for stricter background checks, prevents the sale of firearms to those with a history of domestic violence and abuse, and cracks down on the sale of illegal guns, making it a federal crime for those who are selling illegally.

While it would seem that the decision to implement laws that protect and put an end to these senseless killings, that only increase in prevalence would be unanimous, the Schumer’s bill has been meet with public backlash both from the Republican party and on social media. Only a day after the San Bernardino shooting that occurred on December 3, 2015 after a couple open fired on a community center for those with developmental disabilities, killing 14 people. The GOP shutdown legislation that called for stricter gun violence. Since the shooting the media and public have speculated and spoken out on every issue but the current one America has created a culture of gun violence that is here to stay regardless of how senseless

the crime the desire for the lethal weaponry is stronger.

When asked if our society is to blame for our inability to commit to stricter gun control Senior Anna Glazer said, “I think our society doesn’t know how to function without guns. People especially young boys are exposed to them through video games at such a young age that it kind of has become the norm.” Glazer, who recently spent a semester studying abroad in London noted the striking difference to the gun culture in London were the local police do not carry firearms saying, “their society functions perfectly and can handle crime efficiently without using them.”

Additionally, a campus security guard said, “I don’t think we have a cultural problem with guns, but I do think that people don’t know how strong they are when they become the possessors of guns. I think it has a lot to do with what in the mind.”

The gun issue continues to prevail as the GOP voted down a new proposal at a meeting on December 3, the day off the San Bernardino shooting. In the proposal stricter measures would have barred individuals known on the terrorism watch list for obtaining firearms. Since the shooting discussions have begun to include the prevention of the sale of firearms to those on the no fly list. Following the bill’s shutdown Republican senator from New York Pete King said, “I think if we’re going to make more inroads in suburban districts, in the less rural districts, we have to seem more reasonable on it”. Culture and geography of party politics has been the strongest determinant in the gun control debate. With the major of the Republican Party drawing its supporters from the rural south and west.

The cultural question is one that will continue to

be considered as we move forward with the gun debate.

To many, the second amendment right to bear arms is inherent in our culture as Americans and worth protecting.

Republican candidate Ted Cruz said, “We don’t stop the bad guys by taking away our guns, we stop the bad guys buy using our guns”. When Amy Schumer hosted SNL just weeks earlier many criticized her skit that mocks a casual stance on gun violence saying, “ it was distasteful”

I think our society doesn’t know how to function without guns.

People, especially young boys, are exposed to them through video games at such a young age that it kind of has become the norm.

-Anna Glazer, Senior

with some disagreeing with the “fetishist” nature in which gun supporters were portrayed. Schumer was recently asked why she continues to feel so passionately about gun control and change. She said, It’s heartbreaking and I’m in a position of influence so, If not me then who?”

In the wake of the shooting Schumer continues to post information regarding her jointing #Aimingforchange campaign and encourage followers to contact their local representatives and see how they voted for change.

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December 10, 2015

Statistics on Gun Trafficking Christian Gomez & Deniah Cagara Editor-in-Chief & Lead Design

There are 10 laws that shape our nation’s regulation on trafficking weapons: 1. Criminal Penalties for buying a gun for someone who can’t 2. Information can be false identification to false proof of residency in a state 3. Criminal penalties for selling a gun without a proper background check 4. Background checks for all handgun sales at gun shows 5. Purchase permits for all handgun sales 6. Encouraging Law enforcement to not issue conceal carry permits 7. Prohibiting violent misdemeanor criminals from possessing guns

NEW YORK AVERAGE 15.2%

LOUISIANA AVERAGE 28.1%

8 .Requires reporting lost or stolen guns to law enforcement 9. Counties and small municipality enacting gun regulation 10. Inspection of gun dealers Louisiana has none of these laws in place.

Time-to-Crime is short hand for the percentage of guns recovered from crimes committed within two years of the weapon originally being sold. This time-to-crime idea is a strong indicator of gun trafficking to law enforcement. Louisiana also has some of the highest gun exports in the nation, with 28.1% of Louisiana guns having a short time-to-crime statistic, well above the 22.6% average. Louisiana is currently the fourth most dangerous state in the country. Louisiana had the second highest number of gun deaths per capita among the states in 2013.

New York has all of the laws that Louisiana lacks. New York also has an A- on the gunlawscorecard.org one of the highest grades in the nation.

One of the problems new York faces is it imports a majority of the guns that are linked to crimes in the states With 3607 guns entering the state in 2009 that were linked to violent crimes. New York does not impose a waiting period when buying a gun but there is a wait period when obtaining the license to purchase a handgun

For the most part California has a majority of the laws but lack: 1. Allowing criminal penalties for buying a gun for someone who can’t 2. Requires reporting lost or stolen guns to law enforcement While California is pretty good on managing guns they still import nearly 4500 weapons into the state for crime. Even with this level of imports is high these numbers are also linked to the population of the state. California bans most assault weapons excluding the AR-15, which was used in the recent San Bernardino massacre. Unlike Louisiana thought bulk buying of weapons and ammo is banned with a month waiting period per weapon purchase. California also has over 2000 communities with their own regulations on guns, where Louisiana only allows states and certain areas to put bans on weapons. While California is a net importer of weapons the state in 2013 had the 9th lowest number of gun deaths per capita among the states.

that can take up to six months. Local police have right to issue or deny conceal and carry permits. New York similar to California has strict laws on weapons and thus is a net importer of guns but in 2013 New York had the third lowest number of gun deaths per capita among the states. There is a feeling of distance from the issue for many people. We are in New York and thus do not need to worry about the lax gun laws of the south, but it is easy to forget that guns are exported in and out of states, and a weak link in one area of the country can result in the movement of firearms to areas with stronger gun legislation.

CALIFORNIA AVERAGE 12%

ARTS

December 10, 2015

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Carrying heat on campus chase Ballas News Editor This past June, Greg Abbot, governor of Texas, signed a series of bills that allows Texas citizens to open and/or conceal carry handguns everywhere in the state. Controversially, one of these new laws also covers students carrying on public universities in the state. Governor Abbot believes this will pose no threat to campus safety, assuring that he is more, “…proud to expand liberty in the Lone Star State. By signing these bills into law, Texans can be assured that their Second Amendment rights will be stronger and more secure than ever before.” Texas is no stranger to gun incidents on campus. This new law comes into effect on Aug. 1, 2016, the fiftieth anniversary of when Charles Whitman took to the Tower at the University of Texas at Austin and, over an hour and a half period, killed 14 people and wounded 32 others, making it the first mass shooting on a college campus in the United States. While this incident has a substantial global impact worldwide back in 1966, its meaning has obviously lost its impact over time. In 2015, there has been a reported 23 gun-related incidents on college campuses nationwide.

Texas becomes the eighth state to allow students to carry on campus.

The other states include Colorado and Oregon. The issue of gun control in Colorado has been an ongoing issue since April 20, 1999, when Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold murdered 13 people and injured 21 others during their rampage at Columbine High School. In 2003, the Colorado Concealed Carry Act passed, and has since been deemed unlawful to ban carrying firearms on public Colorado university campuses. Since then, there has not been a significant shooting on a school campus in Colorado.

However, there has been shootings elsewhere, most notable at a movie theatre in Aurora in 2012 during a screening of The Dark Knight Rises.

The Oregon Court of Appeals ruled in 2011 that public universities could not ban weapons on campus grounds. However, this past October, Christopher Harper-Mercer walked into Umpqua Community College and killed 13 people and injured 20, making it the first mass shooting on a college campus this year.

Most poignantly, Umpqua was not a “gun free zone” and this still happened.

In Texas, there are already private universities that are opting out of the Texas law. At Rice University in Houston, President David Leebron noted that, “not a single constituency consulted has endorsed

Mourners gather for vigil in Roseburg, Oregon JOSH EDELSON AFP/GETTY IMAGES having guns on our campus; in fact, each overwhelmingly opposed it. Maintaining the safety of our students and employees is our highest priority.” Other university presidents have also voiced opinions against the new law, including those at Texas A&M University, the University of Houston, Texas Tech University and UT- Austin. Most also cite that most students will not be able to carry guns anyway, since most are under the required age of 21, so it would not make a difference anyway.

However, there are also the fears surrounding an increased in incidents over racism. Recently, Jerry Falwell Jr., leader of the pro-Christian Liberty University in Virginia, has urged students to carry concealed weapons to “…end those Muslims before they walk in. Let’s teach them a lesson if they ever show up here.” These words carry more weight following a series of racially charged incidents throughout campuses in the nation, specifically at the University of Missouri. And, of course, they impact even more in Virginia, the site of the deadliest college shooting at Virginia Tech in 2007.

Students should not be in fear of getting shot while discussing topics in class.

Students should not be in fear of getting shot in fear of being different. Students should not be in fear of being shot by a classmate. Students should not be in fear of being shot.

Chris Johnson Shooting natalie conDrillo Features Editor

From @chrisjohnsontwo8 Instagram Me getting shot made me think different. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper ; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the lord and their righteousness is of me, saith the lord.

Former running back for the New York Jets and Tennessee Titans Chris Johnson, was involved in a fatal shooting in Orlando, Florida, during the early morning hours of Sunday March 8, 2015.

Though the athlete was only shot in the right arm and released from the hospital without any major problems, acts of gun violence have become the least bit surprising. Fellow passenger, Reggie Johnson was caught in the crossfire, but also walked out of the situation alive. Unfortunately the driver of the car, 28-year-old Dreekius Oricko Johnson, was killed. Described as a drive-by shooting, the three men were sitting in a Jeep SUV at a red light when a neighboring car opened fire against them. Police have stated this investigation is ongoing, and that no arrests were accomplished regarding this crime.

“It was a life-changing experience. It showed you how to enjoy life and how to enjoy every day waking up. Because just as easily as it was one of my best friends that was sitting right next to me – the one that got killed – it easily could have been me. So these days, I’m just enjoying life and making sure I enjoy each day,” Johnson stated after the attack. He elaborated, “Wrong place at the wrong time,” Johnson said of the shooting.

“So it’s nothing to really be paranoid about or anything like that. I still live my life. I live my life to the fullest. Right now, my main focus is on working out and spending time with my family

and my kid.”

Chris Johnson, who had been in his own road to recovery without being a victim of gun violence, certainly didn’t expect this to happen during the off-season. Plagued by injuries the past few seasons, Johnson had looked into further recovery options. One of which included receiving stem cell procedures, to aid his torn meniscus’s surgery, in hopes of growing and rebuilding new healthy cartilage. The running back would not let this determine the fate of his passion. From the moment he was stabilized and recovered, he began to train to get his football physique back for the start of a new season. Johnson was later signed with the Arizona Cardinals, and is a current member of the team. In the event the Cardinals will succeed through the 2016 NFC playoffs, Johnson will be eligible to participate. His opportunity to earn a two million dollar incentive with 1,300-yards rushed overall as well as playing time in the annual NFL Pro Bowl, has expired because of this injury and lost playing time.

However, the people of this country anticipate a casual attack like this all the time. The nation as a whole is desensitized to events like this, seeing it on countless media platforms every day. The days between mass shootings and acts of violence are getting fewer and fewer. This year alone there were more mass shootings that occurred than number of days. Nobody is safe from random shootings, due to how easily accessible guns are, whether they are purchased strictly for protection, or purchased in order to harm others, or oneself.

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arts

December 10, 2015

Violence: 60% off

Home shopping channel for guns to launch in 2016

CHRISTIAN GOMEZ & MaxIMILLILANO Onofre Editor-in-Chief & Executive Editor

Sarah hartzell Arts Editor A new home shopping network dedicated to the sale of firearms will launch in January of 2016. GunTV will follow in the format of channels like QVC, with experts and presenters hocking “a broad range of the most in-demand products in the firearms market” to be purchased online or through their toll-free phone number.

GunTV executives claim that their network is simply meeting the demand for gun sales in America rather than generating it and they do not expect that it will raise gun ownership rates.

“We saw an opportunity in filling a need, not creating one,” said co-founder Valerie Castle.“It’s just like having a personal shopper when you go to Nordstrom. They are trained in what is going to suit you.”

GunTV is set to feature demonstrations from law enforcement officials, military veterans, and famous sharpshooters, even though weapons cannot legally be fired within

guns.com Since the Bill of Rights was signed, citizens of the United States have had the right to own a gun. But that was when the most dangerous guns were mostly singleshot muskets that had to be manually loaded with powder and ball for each shot, only shooting 2-3 bullets at a time, when America was still only 13 colonies, and when the “frontier” was a vast are of unknowns.

Nowadays, those rules of the right to bear arms still exist but we have given everyone the chance to carry a semi-automatic assault weapon that can shoot up to 60 bullets per minute. We may still have the right to buy, sell, and own as many and whichever kinds of weapons we want but the laws may have reached a point of needing an amendment after ShootingTracker.com showed that the United States has just under one mass shooting per day.

Lousiana is a prime example of the ease in obtaining a gun.

To highlight for a moment Louisiana this is how you can get a gun there.

The only requirement for purchasing a weapon is a valid driver’s license used mostly to verify age · You must be 21 to purchase a handgun · 18 to purchase a shotgun or rile. · No permit is needed to purchase a firearm · No gun license is mandatory to detail ownership · Guns of any kind do not need to be registered · There are nearly no restriction on carrying a loaded weapon

o The only exception is on college campus’s

o Schools

o Hospitals

o Municipalities and places of worship

· It is permissible to transport loaded weapons in a vehicle without a gun license Conceal carry, is where the law begins to get heavier · You must be 21 · You must be a Louisiana resident for 6 months · Pass a basic weapons training cures · Take safety classes · And possess no background of felony convictions, alcohol or drug abuse and mental illness. · The permit takes 10 days to issue and valid for 4 years Gun dealers are also lightly inconvenience by law in Louisiana · There is no state license to sell guns · Dealers do not need to keep records of purchases · You can bulk purchase weapons

o Most states limit purchases of one handgun a month · Background checks are not required on any gun purchase · There are no restrictions on ammunition, assault weapons testing, child-proofing of weapons, or guns at the workplace.

What laws Louisiana does have · Tampering with serial numbers is considered illegal · Operating a firearm under the influence is illegal There is a feeling of distance from the issue for many people. We are in NEW YORK and thus do not need to worry about the lax gun laws of the south, but it is easy to forget that guns are exported in and out of states, and a weak link in one area of the country can result in the movement of firearms to areas with stronger gun legislation.

We saw an opportunity in filling a need, not creating one. It’s just like having a personal shopper when you go to Nordstrom. They are trained in what is going ot suit you.

-Valarie Castle,

GunTV Co-funder

the Los Angeles studio where GunTV is housed.

The firearms will be presented in interactive form and supplemented with offsite footage.

Castle and her husband, Doug Bornstein, have named GunTV’s parent company the Social Responsibility Network and emphasize responsible gun ownership as part of GunTV’s platform. Every hour of GunTV will feature three minutes of safety education programming. “We are going to educate people about the importance of getting good training. I don’t weigh in politically on the gun control issue,” Castle said.

In order to comply with federal regulations, purchases made through GunTV are not shipped directly to buyers. Rather, they are dispatched to the nearest federally licensed firearms retailer, which completes the necessary paperwork and background checks. GunTV will broadcast between the hours of one and seven a.m., with the aim of expanding to twenty-four hour a day broadcasting.

December 10, 2015

ARTS

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11

#BlackLivesMatter is Not Just a Hashtag A movement for equal respect creates waves across the nation Katie GallaGher Staff Writer On Feb. 26th, 2012 seventeen-year old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed in by Florida resident George Zimmerman. This crucial event was arguably the marker to the very beginning of the monumental Black Lives Matter movement throughout the United States. Following multiple events concerning the deaths of innocent unarmed young black men contributed to the growing impact and importance of the movement. The drive to support the movement grew after the fatal shooting of eighteen-year old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri on Aug. 9th, 2014. Almost immediately after, protests and riots began in Ferguson with serious backlash to the police force that was responsible for Brown’s death. Not only were the Ferguson protests a demonstration to the police, but a loud message that would call for citizens to recognize the structural and fatal racism that exists and perpetrates the black community in the United States. Brutal response to the Ferguson demonstrations from the Missouri law enforcement left protestors to stand up and fight for the movement. This very model of the Ferguson protests is the defining fact that the Black Lives Matter movement lies upon. During the actions and riots in Ferguson, the rest of the country took to Michael Brown social media platforms such as 1996-2014 Twitter and Facebook with the hashtag “#BlackLivesMatter” to discuss the horrors and realities of police brutality, the deaths of young black men, and the very evident conflict of structural racism within the society as well as the government. The Internet’s role, with use of the hashtag, is one that is extraordinary and vital to the growth and support that the movement certainly gained. The shocking news about the deaths of both Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown spread like instant wildfire with means of the Internet, allowing for the conversation and movement to flourish. Many who support the cause claim that the Black Lives Matter movement is in some ways similar to The Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s, in that the fight for civil rights never ended. Junior Pace University student, Alex Rea, comments on the idea by stating “I think what’s most interesting to me about the Black Lives Matter movement, comparatively, is that it really goes to show how when history is simplified and put in a textbook, it really just trivializes it in a way that people don’t even think that it’s real, so people think ‘Okay we ended slavery and we Trayvon Martin ended segregation so racism is over’ but I 1995-2012

don’t think they understand that systematic and structural racism has always existed to begin with.” In 2015, the Black Lives Matter movement touches upon problems that have existed for much longer than just since the 1960’s, however, it focuses more on the fact that black lives are being targeted as a product of the systematic racism that is practiced and demonstrated within the United States law enforcement system, and society as a whole. The movement’s goal is to bring to the forefront the very simple fact that unarmed innocent black people have lost their lives, or have been in the line of danger due to the racist pressures and views that are instilled within not only the police bodies but the government that claims to preach and promise freedom for all.

Counter movements such as “All Lives Matter” and “Blue Lives Matter” miss the point completely and neglect to recognize the importance of black lives, but rather “blue lives” implying the law enforcement bodies that work dangerous jobs, or “all lives” implying that equality must be all-inclusive even with a social media based hashtag. By expanding the online discussion to broader terms, there is more opportunity for dispute over the very real issue of racism, which in turn supports further the relevance and importance back to the Black Lives Matter movement. The conversation does not stop at the reality of white police violence on black unarmed men, but expands farther and wider out to in an attempt to educate those who are unaware of the killings of these people and are unaware of the systematic and structural racism that exists in the United States. What started with a simple hashtag and a hope to create a sense of community among those involved, turned out to stimulate and encourage a worldwide movement that not only promotes the remembering and commemorating of the lives that have been lost, but also protects and stands up strong and proudly for the lives that still live. Let us not forget Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Shantel Davis, Rekia Boyd, Oscar Grant and the many, many other lives of men and women that have been taken.

Eric Garner 1970-2014

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December 10, 2015

flicker.com

Democrat gun views

Republican gun views

aDam manfreDi Design Intern

Jessica KoVac News Intern

The Democratic presidential candidates have enforced gun control as a dominant issue for the national election, after watching previous Democrats avoid this subject in recent year.s After years of deadly mass shootings across the country, and with President Obama continuously showing dissatisfaction with inaction by Republicans in Congress, the Democratic candidates, led by Senator Hilary Clinton, pledge to tighten restrictions on gun owners and gun manufactures in recent debates.

Most are more than ambitious and determined to push gun control into next year’s election, adequately declaring war on the National Rifle Association.

“We have to look at the fact that we lose 90 people a day from gun violence,” says Clinton at the first Democratic debate, hosted by CNN. “This has gone on too long, and its time the entire country stood up against the NRA.” Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is also very eager to fight gun control, claiming he wants tougher screening policies in the wake of the shooting in San Bernardino. Sanders explains, “I don’t think anybody believes it’s a magic formula. Clearly, though, there is an obvious common-sense consensus in this country that guns should not be falling into the hands of people who should not be having them.”

Sanders’ main points from his recent debates are that the U.S. should expand instant background checks, banning assault weapons, and prevent people from previously buying guns and passing them onto criminals. Sanders also noted that there should be a “revolution in mental health” to make sure people who are mentally unstable can find help easier.

Former Maryland Gov. and current Democratic candidate Martin O’Malley seems aggressive about making gun control a pillar to his 2016 presidential campaign as well. Late November there was a Republican debate in Boulder, Colorado, where O’Malley took the stage and called for immediate action on further gun control measures and rallied GOP candidates participating in the event to challenge the N.R.A. Near the debate site O’Malley joined family members of victims of mass shootings and pushed his case.

“In these beautiful mountains of Colorado, I am in search of a very elusive being.

And that is a Republican candidate with the backbone to take on the NRA,” said O’Malley with urgency in a gun lobby in front of a crowd of students.

Even though Democrats have taken a shy approach to fix gun control issues in the past, the three polling leaders for the Democratic Party have surprisingly been very determined to use this to fuel their campaigns.

36 million. That is the amount of money that the National Rifle Association has spent in the last year. 48, 534. The number of gun related incidents in the past year.

634. The number of children that have been injured or killed by a gun related incident in the past year. 14. The number of people that were killed in the San Bernardino shooting last week.

In times of tragedy, we demand action. As the tragedy strikes again and again in this country, it becomes harder to provide the answers everyone needs to hear.

48, 534. The GOP has given the same response to an ongoing problem. That response is prayer. “Our prayers are with the victims, their families, and the first responders in San Bernardino who willingly go into harm’s way to save others.”

“My thoughts and prayers are with the shooting victims and their families in San Bernardino.” “California shooting looks very bad. Good luck to law enforcement and God bless. This is when our police are so appreciated!” These are reactions from Ted Cruz, Donald Trump and Ben Carson following the San Bernardino shooting.

There is more than one act of gun violence a day. Prayer is not a solution. It is a tool for counseling and guidance. Something needs to change. The Republican candidates do not seem to understand that. And as every day passes, people continue to suffer.

The NRA is the backbone of the Republican party. They are a multi-million dollar lobbying corporation that controls the conservative right. Between 2013 and 2014 they spent nearly $1 million in campaign contributions, $7 million in lobbying, and $28 million in outside spending. The power they have accumulated through the years has made them a top player in Washington.

The GOP knows this, and it is reflected in their campaign strategy. Without the NRA, the Republicans can forget about seeking the nomination. So as each shooting is unveiled to the public, the candidates conveniently avoid discussing any policy.

When a candidate does receive a policy question, their strategy is to dodge the subject and discuss other hot topics like mental illness and extreme video game use.

The spotlight is taken off gun control and voters begin to question other reasons for the violence. Trump, Marco Rubio and Carson have all been cited saying mental illness is a key component in gun violence. After some time has passed the candidates do not revisit the issues nor are they seen as part of an official platform. They are used as a temporary escape to avoid being part of a news headline.

What they do revisit is their stance on gun control. After time has passed, the candidates step up onto the podium and declare their allegiance to the NRA. One week after the shooting at a community college in Oregon, Carson came out with hard hitting comments on gun control, saying that teachers should carry weapons and insinuating the way to end gun violence is by arming the people.

Every day the GOP dodges the issue is another day innocent people die. Prayer does not solve the issue. Social media campaigns do not solve the issue. Legislation will solve the issue. The people want action, and it is about time we demand it.