Newspapers / Meredith College Student Newspaper / Jan. 30, 2013, edition 1 / Page 3
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Changes Anticipated in Boy Scout Poiicies Concerning Sexuaiity Maitlyn Healy and Emma Johnson, staff writers 2013 has already seen a few histori cal moments in terms of the move ment towards homosexual equality. President Obama because the first President in US history to use the term “gay” as a reference to sexual orientation in his inaugura tion speech on January 21. Just a week later on Monday, January 28, The Boy Scouts of America, a 102 year -old organization, announced a pro posal to move away from its ban on gay members and leaders. The board may lift the national ban, but the ultimate decision will be left up to each individual chartering organiza tion. In Minnesota, the Northern Star Council has had an inclusive policy for 12 years. While there has been sup port for this movement from many, such as gay men who used to be boy scouts and were denied their Eagle Scout due to their sexual orientation, there has also been objection. Because many BSA troops are sponsored and supported by local churches, these religious organizations are surprised by this movement and are showing little support for it. Others opposed to lifting the ban include The Merck Company Foundation, Intel Founda tion, UPS, and United Way, who all -Stopped their donations and funding to the organization. Some Boy Scout parents are also ap prehensive. They seem to be more con cerned with gay leaders more so than gay members because they fear it will lead to pedophilia, which the organiza tion has had issues with in the past. There been months of protest about this issue as several Eagle Scouts have already returned their badges and awards to show their dissatisfaction with lifting this ban. There is a bian nual meeting of the organization’s national board in February where the issue is expected to be discussed. Changes in the policy will be revealed after that time. Defining Assauit Weapons in the U.S. Kim Dixon, staff writer On January 16, 2013, President Obama and Vice President Biden unveiled a new proposal to curb future gun violence in America. Included in the four major legislative proposals and twenty three Executive Orders signed that day, the President asked Congress to reinstate and strengthen the 1994 assault weapons ban, which was signed into law by then President Bill Clinton, and expired in 2004. In its January 28, 2013 issue. Time Magazine reports, “More than a third of U.S. police departments have reported an increase in criminal’s use of assault weapons since the 10-year federal ban on sales expired in 2004.” Legislation to renew the ban has been introduced several times since its ex piration but has been unsuccessful. In a January 17, 2013 article in The New York Times, Erica Goode proposes that one of President Obama’s obstacles in the proposed new federal ban “could lie in the use of the term ‘assault weapon’ itself.” Under the 1994 ban a rifle was considered an assault weapon if it was semiautomatic with a detachable magazine and had at least two of five other specified characteristics: Collapsible stock - which allows the gun to be shortened. Pistol grip - which allows the gun to be fired from the hip. Flash suppressor or thread ing to attach one - which keeps the shooter from being blinded by muzzle flashes. Bay onet lug - which is used to attach a bayonet, and a Grenade launcher - which allows a grenade to be thrown more accurately and farther than if thrown by hand. According to Goode, Internet forum advocates of the ban argue that the assault rifles designation “should ap ply to firearms like those used in the Newtown, Conn, shootings and other recent mass killings - semiautomatic Smith and Wesson assault rifle photo via lmpactguns.com rifles with detachable magazines and ‘military’ features like pistol grips, flash suppressors and collapsible or folding stocks” - similar to. 1994 defi nition and the one shown above. Advo cates believe these fire arms were “designed for the battle field, where the goal is to rapidly kill as many enemy soldiers as possible, and they have no place in civil ian life.” Some in opposition to the ban object to the label of “assault weapon” to describe guns that “are routinely used in target shooting and hunting.” They argue that the title belongs only to “firearms capable of full automatic fire” such as those used by the military and law enforcement. Opponents to banning such weapons prefer “tactical rifle” or “modern sport ing rifle” as a more suitable label. The most basic criteria, Goode says, “have to do with a firearm’s ability to fire multiple rounds quickly.” Semiau tomatic weapons have this capability as they have detachable magazines, which allow a user to fire ten or more rounds before having to put a neW magazine in place. Time Magazine’s Januaiy 28, 2013 special report on these issues states the number of shots an AR-15 rifle is capable of firing per minute in semiautomatic mode is 45 rounds. According to the Time special report, California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Mas sachusetts, New Jersey, and New York have assault weapons bans in place; whether other states will follow their lead remains to be seen. President Obama and his administration will have many battles to fight in their ef forts to ban assault weapons, but he appears committed to the task. President Obama Inaugurated for Second Term Emma Johnson, staff writer President Barack Obama took the oath of office for his second term as the President of the United States on Januaiy 21, 2013, four years and a day after his first inauguration. The inaugural ceremony began after per formances by an elementary school chorus and the U.S. Marine Band, which were followed by the seating of first lady, Michelle Obama, Vice Presi dent Joe Biden and President Obama. The Vice President took his oath of office, administered by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, after the invocation given by Myrlie Evers- Williams and the performance of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Preceding the administration of the President’s oath of office is James Taylor’s per formance of “America the Beautiful.” President Obama took his second oath of office administered by U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts, followed by the deliverance of this second inaugural address. President Obama’s address began with a reference to the US Constitu tion; the President’s opening lines were, “Each time we gather to inaugu rate a president, we bear witness to the enduring strength of our Constitution.” He later continues to encourage the people of our nation to cqme together to keep our free nation strong by stat ing, “But we have always understood that when times change, so must we; that fidelity to our founding principles requires new responses to new chal lenges; that preserving our individual freedoms ultimately requires collective action.” The President has been said to have made history in speech by refer encing gay rights. Shushannah Walshe with ABC reported, “President Obama made history in his inaugural address today mentioning the word ‘gay’ and the issue of gay rights.” This was the first time this issue has ever been men tioned during a presidential inaugura tion. When asked about her opinion of President Obama’s inaugural speech, senior biology student, Hillary Verrilli stated, “Though he was veiy well spo ken, as always, I could not find a quote that was particularly moving or that stuck with me, but I did appreciate the central theme of unity.” The President’s speech was followed by Kelly Clarkson singing “America (My Country ‘Tis of Thee).” At this point in the service, Richard Blanco, a Cuban-American poet, delivered a poem about equality and the power of the American dream. Reverend Luis Leon gave a benediction, and Be- yonce closed the ceremony with “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Following an inaugural luncheon, the President, the Vice President, and their families participated in the inaugural parade to the White House down the famous Pennsylvania Avenue. The evening of the inauguration consists of inaugu ral balls that involve the Obamas, the Bidens, military personnel, and other important members of the American government. There was no shortage of support for the Obama-Biden administration at the ceremony. Despite the chilly temperature, there were hundreds of thousands of people gathered in the National Mall to witness him take the oath of office for the second time. The President himself also seemed to cher ish the day. As noted in an ABC News article by Michael Falcone, as he was exiting the platform. President Obama turned back around and looked over the crowd in the National Mall. He was heard saying, “I want to take a look one more time. I’m not going to see this again.” We wish the President and the Vice President a successful second term.
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