TMCnet News
EDITORIAL: Amend Utah's gun laws [Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah](Standard-Examiner (Ogden, UT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 17--The threats against feminist speaker Anita Sarkeesian and her decision to cancel a speech at Utah State University because state law prevents the university from taking measures that Sarkeesian felt were needed for her security should lead the Legislature to amend a portion of Utah's gun laws. What's needed is for the Legislature to amend the law so that some public organizations, such as a university, can have the same option as other entities, such as churches or private locations, to determine how to protect attendees at specific events. With such a law, the university could have posted a notice prohibiting firearms for the speech. Having this option, which of course would be used sparingly, could have allowed Sarkeesian to feel she could both speak at USU and be protected to a degree she felt comfortable. USU could not meet the speaker's request that firearms not be allowed at the speech because, as USU stated, "... in accordance with the state of Utah law regarding the carrying of firearms, if a person has a valid concealed firearm permit and is carrying a weapon, they are permitted to have it at the venue." Will legislators amend the law to allow greater security in specific cases? Frankly, probably not; but they should. The threat that Sarkeesian received promised "the deadliest school shooting in American history." The anonymous email threat claimed to be from a student. What occurred last week underscores a reaction to calls from Sarkeesian and others to have the video gaming industry show more respect toward women and tone down much of the misogynistic violence that occurs in games. The term "Gamergate" has arisen as a small group of opponents have used extreme tactics, including threats, against Sarkeesian and others. Some popular games, such as Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty, are frankly alarming in their violence and misogyny. While the vast majority of game players are not inclined to simulate what goes on in these video games, we would not be surprised at all if the person sending the threatening email turns out to be an overly enthusiastic fan of Grand Theft Auto, for instance. ___ (c)2014 the Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah) Visit the Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah) at www.standard.net Distributed by MCT Information Services |