Bigotry of a different stripe

The mainstream media brings us yet another example of how anti-self-defense folks rely on bigotry, feelings and emotions over diversity, science and substance with the story of a University of Colorado staff member proudly displaying a “no guns” sign on his office door at a public university.

His bigotry (defined as “stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one’s own” by Collins) should be called out by freedom-loving Americans as offensive, as he’s demanding (or “asking” as the University claims) others forgo their civil rights based upon nothing more than his personal fears about card-carrying, good guy gun owners.

Sixty plus years ago, bigots like Bonetti posted signs that said, “No Negroes”.

Clearly such a sign today at a public institution would bring outrage and rightfully so.

But bigotry didn’t start or end with blacks.

In different parts of the nation, bigots posted signs like “No Irish Need Apply.”

And today, of course, we have “no firearms” signage like that of Mr. Bonetti.

Why does he have his little sign proudly posted?

We’ll share that part directly from the newspaper story in the Daily Camera:

Bonetti said that he would like the CU administration to reframe the issue of guns on campus so that it’s not seen as a hot-button political issue pitting liberals against conservatives, but, rather, as an issue of public health and safety.

Bonetti, who has been a vocal proponent of the First Amendment, said that his sign is meant to express his concerns, because, after all, he wouldn’t know whether somebody was bringing a concealed weapon into his office.

“The desire of an employee to have a safe, personal space was not being supported by the administration,” Bonetti said. “Instead, they have taken a stand that seemed, in my view, to correspond with the views of the gun lobby.”

Bonetti said the presence of guns on college campuses raises the fear index, causing an increase in the likelihood of a tragedy. He said that he would like CU administrators and the Board of Regents to take a firm stance against guns on campus.

Mr. Bonetti, that makes about as much sense as blacks on campus is an issue of public health and safety and that blacks on campus raises the fear index, and advocating the Board of Regents take a firm stance against blacks on campus.

To add insult to injury, near the end of the article:  “Retired sociology professor Tom Mayer, a friend and former colleague of Bonetti’s, called the sign on adviser’s door courageous.”

We have no doubt that advocates of segregation considered resistance to desegregation in schools and public areas was courageous as well.  That doesn’t make it right.

It’s a shame Mr. Bonetti isn’t a vocal proponent of the entire Constitution instead of looking at it as a cafeteria plan, taking what you like and discarding the rest.