Associated Students of the University of Washington
Student Senate
Session 16
 

A Resolution in Support of Safety in Non-Potentially-Lethal Measures

WHEREAS the University District Defenders (UDD) have organized for the purpose of “protecting our community”; and

WHEREAS the UDD plans to increase community safety by promoting individuals obtaining concealed pistol licenses and arming themselves; and

WHEREAS Officer Jerome Solomon of the University of Washington Police Department (UWPD) said to The Daily, “We wouldn’t want innocent people to get hurt unnecessarily, and the chances of that happening if other citizens are armed is increased;” and

WHEREAS the UWPD reports that there has not been a recent large increase in crime activity; and

WHEREAS according to UW Police Commander Jerome Solomon, the perception that crime is on the rise may come from increased efficiency in communication about crime; and

WHEREAS the UWPD does not endorse concealed weapons as the correct response to increased concerns about safety; and

WHEREAS the UWPD would “rather see the police work left to the professionals;” and

WHEREAS the five Daily articles , Seattle Times article , KOMO article , and Q13 article about the organized group of individuals carrying concealed weapons have had numerous responses; and

WHEREAS the responses by individuals in the community, both by supporters of the concealed pistol license and non-supporters, predominately expressed worry about personal safety and skepticism about the benefit of the group; and

WHEREAS the responses supporting this group mainly supported an individual’s right to bear arms for personal protection, rather than to protect the community; and

WHEREAS the State of Washington issues concealed weapons for the stated purpose of personal safety and not community safety; and

WHEREAS a safe environment exhibits, among its many qualities, control and stability; and

WHEREAS the UWPD’s ability to maintain control of a situation when a number of individuals act at their own discretion is less than when people follow more predictable procedures; and

WHEREAS the stability of a situation is greater when there is a common procedure amongst a group of people than when individuals act independently of each other; and

WHEREAS there are other tools of personal safety that do not have lethal potential, including pepper spray and tasers; and

WHEREAS time spent educating and training qualified individuals to carry a concealed weapon safely for personal protection could instead be spent increasing collaboration of individuals of all capabilities toward the safety of the community; and

WHEREAS the larger the participation in community safety, the higher the efficiency of any effort to increase community safety; and

WHEREAS past efforts to increase safety have largely been an attempt to educate the community, rather than implementing action-based, community involvement programs; and

WHEREAS the formation of the UDD is evidence of the concern of individuals within the University Community about their safety; therefore

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON:

THAT this piece of legislation imply nothing about ASUW’s stance on the right to bear arms either openly or concealed; and

THAT the ASUW hopes with this legislation to promote the surest, most efficient, and most available methods of promoting safety to individuals of all capabilities; and

THAT the ASUW believes a group of individuals carrying concealed weapons will not increase community safety as a whole; and

THAT the ASUW believes an organized group of individuals carrying concealed weapons will promote further anxiety in individuals in the University District, rather than a feeling of safety; and

THAT the ASUW support with greater enthusiasm those who put time and effort into increasing community safety rather than individual safety; and

THAT the ASUW supports individuals and groups that seek to increase community safety by working either directly with the UWPD or in ways that it has endorsed; and

THAT the ASUW Committee on Student Safety (CSS) will raise awareness about how to maintain personal safety throughout the University District through education about preventive measures and reactive measures; and

THAT the committee create one or more programs to put community safety into the hands of individuals of all capabilities in the community; and

THAT the committee look into implementing programs such as the Refuse to be a Victim series and Neighborhood watch; and

THAT the committee seek ways, such as video cameras on streets, to increase the likelihood that perpetrators be caught so potential offenders will be dissuaded from initiating crimes; and

THAT the committee look into typical circumstances of when crimes occur and how to eliminate them, including the effects of loitering and incentives that draw criminals into the area; and

THAT the committee seek to eliminate the environments in which crimes take place, including poorly-lit streets and individuals walking alone; and

THAT a copy of this resolution be forwarded to UW Police Chief John Vinson and Vice Provost of Student Life Eric Godfrey; and

THAT the CSS follow up with the above individuals to ensure that we are cooperating with the UWPD and maximizing our efforts.

History of Legislation

11/16/2009: Submitted for consideration
11/21/09: Referred to the Steering Committee
11/21/2009: Amended by the Steering Committee
11/22/2009: Amended by the Steering Committee
12/01/2009: Amended by the Steering Committee
11/24/2009: Discharged from the Steering Committee
12/01/2009: Placed on First Reading
12/01/09: Referred to the Off-Campus Affairs Committee
12/01/2009: Amended by the Off-Campus Affairs Committee
12/01/2009: Discharged from the Off-Campus Affairs Committee
12/01/2009: Referred to the Steering Committee
12/01/2009: Referred to the Steering Committee
12/01/2009: Reported Favorably by the Steering Committee
12/01/2009: Placed on First Reading
12/08/2009: Placed on Second Reading
12/08/2009: Passed by the Senate
12/10/2009: Approved by the Board of Directors

Legislation ID:
R-16-8

Date Submitted:
11/16/2009

Sponsor:
Christopher Teeny-IFC

Cosponsor(s):