
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, May 13, 1990                   TAG: 9005140184
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: F-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

DOG POISONING: DON'T TAKE LAW INTO YOUR HANDS

I FEEL THAT I must respond to Al Hillman's letter April 20 because of his statement: "Most of us will take any action necessary to protect our livelihood."

Wow! The owners of the poisoned dogs could use any means to ensure the safety of future pets from the suspected farmers. A plate of poisoned food would be nice, or a lynching party in the middle of the night. Tit for tat - right?

Of course not. This is 1990 A.D., not B.C. We live in a democratic country with a judicial system to protect us. Although not infallible, it works most of the time. Our system keeps the average person's anger from becoming an uncontrollable rage. Civility, not savagery, is the key to a peaceful coexistence.

If possible, when our rights have been infringed upon, we should communicate with the offending parties and settle differences with some kind of agreement. When that's not feasible, we should take them to court. No law may exist to help protect our rights in certain cases. We then must work to have one passed.

Fortunately the owners of the poisoned dogs did not take the law into their own hands, but called the police for an investigation.

K. JOAN EATON\ BOONES MILL

by CNB