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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 27, 1991                   TAG: 9103270412
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

TRADITION OF LIBERTY IS UNDER ATTACK

VIRGINIA'S solid tradition as the cradle of liberty is threatened. Some of our esteemed legislators seem hell-bent on rocking that cradle. They seem obsessed not only with protecting us from each other, but also from our ignorant, bumbling selves.

For example, there is a relentless stream of restrictive firearms legislation that would serve only to provide amusement for criminals and harassment for honest citizens. The First and Fourth Amendments are also under attack. There was an effort in the past General Assembly to make violation of the mandatory seat-belt law a primary traffic offense.

Convictions would have become part of the driving record, the same as speeding and reckless driving. Forget to fasten the old seat belt a few times, then you walk to work.

My personal opinion is that seat belts make sense. I wouldn't be caught dead without one. But government has no right to tell citizens they must, under penalty of law, use this device to protect their adult bodies. If this violation of constitutionally protected rights is permitted, what will prevent law-enforcers from searching homes, under the now legal warrantless search precedent, to arrest citizens for having removed table saw blade guards, mower handle switches or, for that matter, mattress labels?

While the level and extent of concern of the average citizen of Virginia may be debatable, there can be no doubt about the commitment to freedom by our armed forces returning from the gulf. They all care deeply about individual liberty, having risked their lives to preserve it.

ROBERT L. PRICE\ ROUTE 2, NEW CASTLE

by CNB