Page 10 Editorial... Guns for jackets, guns for tickets, guns for down payments on cars, guns for toys, guns for money. Lately companies and even athletes have been giving gifts to individuals who turn in guns. This is a novel idea and one that has received quite a large response. Its purpose is obvious- get rid of guns and lower violent deaths. Like many things, the intentions airs great, but the results may not be the same. The problem is that the wrong people are turning in their guns. There is not a long line of drug dealers or gang members turning in their guns. The majority of gun killings are not committed by the types of people tuning in their guns. They are committed by theeople who are staying away from the gift-giving. Many a cci dental home shootings may be averted by the efforts, but we must not be allowed to believe that our crisis may be solved. Tuesday night, President Bill Clinton said that he is recommending strong anti-crime measures including a law that locks up three-time violent offenders for life, puts 100,000 more police on the beat, and creates boot camps. These are good measures, but not perfect. Why give criminals two chances? If they commit a violent crime and then commit another crime while on parole, there is no reason to allow them to do it again. It should be two strikes and you're out! Another step in combating violent crimes should be education. We need to spend more money to educate youth in the inner cities and youth all around the nation that drugs kill. Not just the use of them, but also the selling and dealing. If corporations are so willing to give out their products, they should be just as willing to donate cash. The war on violent crime will not be an easy one and will not be a short one, but it is one that we desperately need to win! FOILED AGAIN Recently, I tried to return an unopened, plastic-wrapped book to the bookstore that I didn't need for class. I had the receipt with me. Well, I couldn't retuen it. I was informed that school policy states that a book cannot be returned for a refund (even if unopened), past 10 days into the semester. Ohl But not to fear, I can return it for cash at the end of the semester with my other books. I don't think I'll be offered even a buck for a book that was mistakenly ordered in the first place. The card next to the book in the bookstore read "Required", so I bought it. The professor of my class (which has only met once) said it wasn't needed. She obviously didn't know about the 10 day limit on returns or I'm sure she would have been courteous enough to warn us. ', that's not her job. The bookstore claims that it will give you a $lO check if they fail to give you a register receipt. QUESTION: What if they neglect to inform you that you must return any unnecessary, mistakenly ordered books within 10 days of the beginning of the semester? ANSWER: You lose the money you spent on the book you thought was required, a book that was clearly unopened. A book you had the receipt for. Although not a new policy, I wanted to familiarize students and staff that one does exist. If you still have a book you don't need and haven't had a chance to return it yet, sorry to say, the bookstore got you again. -Unhappy Customer *Editor's note- The Behrend College Collegian only accepts signed letters, but upon request will print them anonymously. OPtlfilaffg Editorial Cartoons Thursday, January 27, 1994
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