The Michigan Daily - Monday une 8, 1998 Edited and managed by CHRIS FARAII DAVID WALLACE students at the + ttt' Editor in Chief Editorial Page Editor University of Michigan 1n/css otherwise to toted. onogtic editoroia refl te/t opitiot of i/d 420 Maynard Streetn oessa t honionTelisglail! SA nn A rbor, MI 48109 "aton i o irMitiiyi~i(tt /tittet oi/ic5aIiat " i p olice officers nationwide often find themselves the subject of criticism, be it from community activists, rap artists or the lawbreakers they apprehend. While some of these complaints are justified, they often overshadow the fine service police departments perform for their com- munities. Here in Ann Arbor, the AAPD deserves praise for its programs that reach out to the community, and curious resi- dents should participate in some of the offerings. Many people who live and work rin Ann Arbor probably do not know much about the everyday operation of the police department. In hopes of educating the public, the AAPD offers the Ann Arbor Citizens' Police Academy. This program increases public awareness of the various facets of policework. Through demonstrations and explana- tions of procedures, the AAPD should continue to soften the somewhat adver- sarial relationship between citizens and the police. Best defense AAPD programs reach out to the community Students in particular look upon the police with a suspicious eye. But stu- dents should not ignore the efforts the AAPD makes to work with them. Drinking is a serious problem affecting the University, and AAPD officers con- duct talks with fraternities and sororities to educate members about alcohol abuse. In the face of high-profile alco- hol-related deaths on other campuses last year, the AAPD should continue to keep its lines of communication open with students so that such tragedies do not occur here at the University. The AAPD also deserves credit for its handling of University events such as the Naked Mile. The officers' presence makes the event a good deal safer, and they do not interfere in what is essentially a harmless, though technically illegal, event. Participating students worry less about groping and other assaults because offi- cers are nearby. The AAPD should apply its methods for handling the Naked Mile to other instances of crowd control, where officers' responses have sometimes left a great deal to be desired. Sadly, each academic year generally has its share of assaults, sexual and other- wise. To reduce the number of incidences, students would be well-served to attend the Personal Safety Program - a self- defense clinic offered by the AAPD. These courses stress prevention as much as defense, resulting in students that under- stand how to make themselves less vulner- able. An educated campus makes for a safer campus. Certainly, the AAPD is not without its faults. The handling of last year's Ohio State football game is a glaring example, with officers pummeling and pepp spraying the initial students who poure onto the field after the Michigan victory. While those students did commit a civil infraction, it did not warrant the brutal measures taken. The AAPD should now concentrate on improving its own proce- dures in areas such as crowd management - perhaps using the Naked Mile as a model. As a part of that improvement, the AAPD should work with the public to find a solution that will prevent occurrences violence. To create a safer, more friendly envi- ronment, the AAPD and Ann Arbor citi- zens need to work together. The.AAPD can teach citizens a great deal about pre- venting crimes and tragedies. Citizen participation is necessary to suggest ways the AAPD can improve its proce- dures. Working together, Ann Arbor can become a better community. An armed society Guns should not become easier to acquire More Michigan residents may soon have legal consent to carry loaded guns in their cars or under cover on their persons. Pending legislation would make it harder to deny special permits for carrying handguns to people without a history of crime or mental illness. As private citizens wielding handguns are far more likely to cause accidental deaths than to protect themselves, Michigan legislators should oppose this bill and any future attempts to ease handgun regulations. Under Michigan's current law, people applying for right-to-carry permits must convince gun boards that they need or deserve the special authorization. The pending bill, however, aims to revise the permit distribution protocol such that gun boards will have to find reasons not to issue permits to applicants. The pro- posed change would, in effect, reverse the state's nonverbal stance on gun con- trol. By making permit denial the excep- tion rather than the norm, Michigan would convey the unspoken message that normal private citizens should carry guns and that only aberrant individuals should not. The danger of such a message is made duly evident by statistics highlighting the high frequency of deliberate and acciden- tal misuse of private firearms. A 1986 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that, in cases involving guns kept in private homes, there were 43 suicides, homicides or accidental shooting deaths for every instance of self-protection. Accordingly, legislation making guns a more common public fixture will more likely jeopardize the safety of Michigan's citizens than protect it. Though the bill would mandate gun safety training, it would not ensure proper use of guns. Proponents of right-to-carry laws, including the National Rifle Association, have this time framed their public push for legislation as a women's safety issue, maintaining that the bill will both deter crime and better enable women to protect themselves against violent criminals. Many of these propo- nents, however, neglect to consider that the legislation will not only arm women, but will also make it easier for criminals to arm themselves in public and will increase their ability to commit crimes against women. Despite the NRA's push for the right- to-carry bill as a partial solution to vio- lence against women, gun vendors find themselves serving an almost negligible number of female customers. In fact, more than 10 times more guns were reg- istered to men than women last year. In Washtenaw County last year, less than five percent of all concealed weapons permits were issued to women. Furthermore, Rep. Mary Shroer (D-Ann Arbor) says that polls show women over- whelmingly oppose the terms set forth in the pending bill. Any legislation that arms the public poses a threat to the nation's general safe- ty. A gun-toting public will find itself rid- dled with accidental deaths and throngs of legally armed assailants. Though the pack- age has a strong House backing, law enforcement groups, private citizens and legislators must oppose relaxing gun laws. The safety of Michigan's citizens rests heavily on regulations ensuring that weapons will not become a commonplace fixture in public. Prudent spending Bills will help combat domestic violence omestic violence is an issue that too avenues. Officers need preparation to often goes unrecognized. But the feder- know how best to deal with such explo- al government is taking action that will aid sive, unique circumstances. victims of domestic violence. Two new Stabenow's sponsorship of these two pieces of legislation will help the victims of bills will strengthen the efforts made t domestic violence by giving them another check domestic violence. Funding to loc outlet of help within their communities, and police can be transformed into training it will help law enforcement agencies deal that produces officers well-prepared to with domestic problems. protect the community from domestic Rep. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing) is abuse. Law enforcers could also use the the driving force behind the upcoming leg- money to develop educational programs islation. Both bills, which will be voted on for the community at large. Educating cit- later this summer, seek to reinstate fund- izens about domestic violence and their ing for existing legislation. One bill main- rights can help prevent such instances tains a national toll-free hotline for victims from occurring. The proposed legislatiou of domestic violence, while the other helps deal with the issues at hand. sends funding to law enforcement agen- The national toll-free telephone hotline cies on a local level. Stabenow's sponsor- serves all of America's communities. This ship will keep this four-year-old legisla- program makes help easily accessible to tion alive. Now the legislation is making all, providing a comforting, trained friend its way to the House and is expected to be only a phone call away. Talking about a well received. "This type of legislation traumatic situation can help victims gather gains bipartisan support and is usually their thoughts and find ways to leave a passed quickly," says Stabenow's press dangerous situation. Victims of domestic secretary, Matthew Frankel. violence may sometimes feel that no one The issue of domestic violence is one can help them, but the very existence of that demands the attention of all this phone line shows them otherwise. Americans. Occurrences of domestic vio- Stabenow's impending bills enable the lence have the power to destroy not only community to play an active part in the the relationships at work in a family, but battle against domestic violence. This the lives as well. The impressions that activism allows communities-around the domestic violence leaves on its victims are country to develop an effective defense measureless. Yet many individuals seek that discourages domestic violence, answers to their disputes through physical soothes victims and punishes offenders. blows. As shocking as it is, domestic vio- Domestic violence demands much lence is an issue that makes many people more attention than it receives. The pro- hesitant to intervene. The public often posed legislation works to alleviate sore views such displays as private disputes of the nightmarish consequences OR between a couple. Law enforcers have a domestic violence. Knowledge brings difficult job when mingling in family dis- awareness and hope to victims of domestic putes. Many times, victims of violence in violence. These are effective steps to com- the home do not seek help through legal bat an often unrecognized problem.