Posted on 05/04/2006 8:17:41 AM PDT by neverdem
jhorrigan@th-record.com
New Paltz - A group of four student leaders here have declared their support for a student militia that should be allowed to carry guns on campus.
Not handguns, mind you. But shotguns. And not now, but later, maybe years later, as part of an effort to protect students' rights.
It's taken a generation, but you can safely kiss the image of SUNY New Paltz as a hippie haven goodbye. It's been replaced by a whole new brand of expectation-bending politics.
The students cite years of general abuse by administrators, campus and local police toward students - including profiling and illegal searches - to justify their support of and participation in the militia, which, they say, already has 21 members and is just getting started.
"I don't advocate violence, but I do advocate students' rights," said departing Student Association President R.J. Partington, who characterized himself as a "near-pacifist."
"But on a campus where certain people called 'police officers' can have guns and weapons, students should be afforded the same rights," he said. A student militia would act as a 24-7 "watchdog group" to guard against police abuses, the student leaders say. Cameras, rather than shotguns, would be the principle weapons, they say.
Their support for guns on campus was the result of what all four students agreed was a "peculiar" blend of politics that encompasses Republicans and Greens, far-rightists and far-leftists, liberals and libertarians.
"People think this is a hippie-liberal campus, but it's really not," said Justin Holmes, the newly elected president of the Student Association.
SUNY New Paltz officials and campus police Chief Ray Bryant have said that both campus regulations and state law prohibit possession of firearms on campus.
"Rest assured, " Bryant said, "these regulations will be enforced to protect the well-being of the campus community."
College spokesman Erik Gullickson said that word of the militia's existence had "definitely caused a buzz around here - it's raised some concerns."
None of the students own handguns. They agreed an "ideal" example of a militia's usefulness would be to have teams of three students, two armed with shotguns and a third carrying a video camera, patrolling the campus.
"Guns won't protect our rights, but cameras will," Partington said.
The students admitted the term "militia" conjured images of extreme-right hate groups, but they say that's not what they're about. Dan Curtis, the newly elected president of the statewide SUNY Student Assembly, said that those attracted to the militia share a distrust of government authority.
"We're not racist - we're anti-racist," he said.
Michael Peters is chairman of the New Paltz College Republicans. He said his group, which is not connected to any local Republican organization, strongly supports the idea of a militia based on the constitutional right to bear arms.
The students say they believe the militia movement isn't limited to SUNY New Paltz; they've already received inquiries about it from students at SUNY Potsdam.
Militia? SUNY? New Paltz? Onion?
I'm a big supporter of the Second Amendment, but I'm a little concerned at the thought of students arming themselves to protect their "student rights" - against the campus police? I must have missed something; this doesn't sound right.
A "near-pacifist"?? Do they drink near-beer and get nearly pregnant?
Their support for guns on campus was the result of what all four students agreed was a "peculiar" blend of politics that encompasses Republicans and Greens, far-rightists and far-leftists, liberals and libertarians.
No "real" conservatives or "true" conservatives either.
"near"-conservatives, maybe.
Conservatives In Name Only (CINOs)?
Far-rightists aren't conservatives?
I live near New Paltz college and if the majority of those attending that school don't challenge the "Near-Nitwit" then something is wrong. I've heard of SHOTGUN weddings but a SHOTGUN Militia! These students must be smoking some heavy duty stuff on Campus. I think they need to concentrate more on getting an education, then sign up for the military. Let us have some names so we can write their parents and congratulate them on raising dimwits! Oh well, there are plenty of Bozo's out there and they are getting close to home, my home.
Is a near-pacifist someone who doesn't believe in war. He only kills out of personal spite. (gratuitously stolen from MST3K)
Far-rightists aren't conservatives
"The students admitted the term 'militia' conjured images of extreme-right hate groups..."
Wha?
I carried and since it wasn't illeagal at the time, I carried in school, my Psyc prof went nuts, my advisior was a retired Army Major, math Prof, thought it was fairly cool.
Perhaps they could take care of the damn pigeons while they are patrolling. :)
Obviously they don't study history there, just drug chemistry.
Armed militia's conjure up images of leftist dictators/ totalitarian regimes such a Fidel Castro and small time social communists like him in south America forcing their idiology on the masses.
These "students" aren't even doing that, they just don't like being busted for carrying/dealing and are willing to shoot cops trying to do their job.
These "students" need to be locked up and deprogramed before they hurt someone.
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