arizona state university

For Americans, it’s a basic right to bear arms, but at what cost? The U.S. has a significant number of gun-related deaths each year, including an increase in mass shootings.

This type of public, violent crime takes place every two weeks on average, according to Sherry Towers, a research professor at Arizona State University. She estimates 20 to 30 percent are inspired by previous attacks. This is triple the number of public mass shootings since 2011.

When it comes to the total number of firearm-related deaths in America, some of the most striking statistics revolve around how common these deaths are compared to other countries around the world.

When compared to Canada, Australia or France, Americans are 10 times more likely to be killed by a gun, according to David Hemenway, professor of public health at Harvard School of Public Health.

In fact, more than 30,000 people are killed by guns across the country every year, and this number is considered a low estimate due to the fact that many gun-related deaths are unaccounted for as some shootings slip through the cracks and are not reported by the Centers for Disease Control.

How is this possible? One argument could be the availability of guns in the U.S.

In Arizona, for example, state law mandates that any resident over the age of 21 who is not a prohibited possessor may purchase a gun from a retailer and carry a weapon openly or concealed without a license.

They must undergo and pass a federal background check, unless they already have a permit or license, when purchasing from a retailer, but that’s not the only way to obtain a gun.

Firearms are often sold privately, auctioned, passed down or acquired illegally, which are all processes that don’t require background checks or licensing.

As a result of this increase, gun control laws are being questioned by Americans. After the mass shooting in Oregon, CNN released a poll that found 52 percent of people in the U.S. are opposed to stricter gun control.

Will these numbers inspire lawmakers to revisit current laws? That remains to be seen.

Ghoulish behavior, scary costumes and plenty of tricks are a given on Halloween, but should you expect an increase in criminal activity on October 31? If you live in Tempe, Arizona, you might.

Based on a look at crime rates on Halloween in 10 different cities across the U.S., including Tempe, these are the determining factors for Halloween crime rates:

• Day of the week Halloween falls on. If Halloween occurs over the weekend, parties and other activities could contribute to an increase in crimes on that specific day.
• Common crimes specific to the city at hand.
• Any crime prevention programs in place by the city.
• Whether the city is a college town. University-age students are likely to celebrate Halloween with drinking and partying, which could lead to increased criminal activity.
• Whether any Halloween activities are available for kids and teens. If structured Halloween activities are available, this could reduce the chance of kids and teens getting into legal trouble with pranks, like toilet papering a house, which could be considered vandalism.

In Tempe, theft, vandalism and simple assault top the charts for Halloween crimes, followed by alcohol-related incidents. With Tempe being home to Arizona State University, the largest public university in the U.S., parties and heavy traffic in popular entertainment areas like Mill Avenue make incidents such as DUI and assault fairly common, especially during holidays and special events like Halloween.

Of course, whether criminal activity spikes on Halloween in Arizona depends on a variety of environmental factors. And while these specific crimes are at the top of the list to look out for on Halloween in Tempe, it’s important to look at these results with an analytical eye.

Tempe’s crime rates fluctuate due to a drastic change in population during the workday, which increases by 46 percent each day thanks to high numbers of people from all over the Valley commuting to ASU as well as Tempe’s many employment hubs. Tempe was ranked eighth most dangerous suburb in America in a 2014 crime-rate compilation by real estate company Movoto LLC, however, this does not necessarily mean that Tempe is a dangerous city.

Crime rates are determined by dividing the number of crimes reported by the city’s residential population, which means that Tempe’s inflated daytime population could skew its data, resulting in misleading crime rates. This same issue is also true for any special event or holiday that generates a crowd or celebration, like Halloween.

So, should Arizona residents be worried about an increase in crimes on Halloween? Not necessarily. Just be aware that there’s always a risk of criminal behaviour when crowds and parties are involved. Otherwise, following the same safety precautions practiced on an everyday basis, like locking up and keeping a close eye on kids, should do the trick.

The arrest of ASU English professor Ersula Ore caught the nation’s attention last year, and now she’s fighting back with a $2 million claim against the university.

On May 20, 2014, Ore was arrested on charges of aggravated assault on a police officer, criminal damage, refusal to provide truthful name and obstructing a public thoroughfare. She later pleaded guilty to one count resisting arrest, and the other charges were dropped.

Ore was sentenced to nine months probation.

The notice of claims she filed in November accuses ASU Police Officer Stewart Ferrin of excessive force, false arrest and violation of her federal rights to due process, azcentral reports.

Financial, emotional and psychological damages resulted from the arrest in May, according to the claim, and Ore said she feels degraded and humiliated.

“She also continues to suffer from confusion and anxiety that she is not safe in the presence of uniformed officers,” the claim states.

Ore was crossing a street on the ASU campus in Tempe when Officer Ferrin stopped her and asked for identification. She refused to give ID and questioned why she was stopped, sparking confrontation between the two.

“Personally I’m wondering what about me seemed to be a threat, so much so that it warranted an officer touching me and violating me,” Ore said before Superior Court Commissioner Julie Mata last year.

Ore reportedly kicked the officer in the shin, and Ferrin threatened to “slam” her onto the hood of the police car.

Witnesses of the confrontation called police when the Ferrin became aggressive, throwing Ore to the ground.

The police car’s dashboard camera recorded the confrontation, and the video made national headlines leading civil groups to believe that racial profiling was involved in Ore’s arrest.

ASU recently notified Ferrin that he would be fired, but Ore’s attorney, Daniel Ortega, said his client will continue to press charges regardless of the result of Ferrin’s termination hearing.

The university is currently reviewing the claim, ASU spokesman Mark Johnson said.

The experienced attorneys at Corso Law Group understand that cases involving assault are complicated and require professional attention. Our team will hear your story and defend your rights to our best ability, all while treating you with respect every step of the way.

For help with Arizona DUI charges, please call Corso Law Group at our Phoenix office at (480) 471-4616, or reach us at our Houston office at (713) 231-0499 for Texas DWI charges.