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

DATE: SATURDAY, February 29, 1992                   TAG: 9203020212
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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WILL SWAP SECOND FOR FIRST AMENDMENT

"I MAY DISAGREE with what you say, but I will defend unto death your right to say it." That famous quotation sums up my reaction to Mr. Seamans' article Feb. 16 advocating repeal of the Second Amendment.

The entire article is sheer lunacy in my opinion, but we both have the right to our opinions. He does not have the right to confiscate my personal property, though; that right I will never grant him or his kind.

I will also defend unto death my right to own firearms. Mr. Seamans should make no mistake about that. His trying to take law-abiding Americans' guns away from them will completely tear this nation apart.

I cannot stop criminals from shooting, stabbing and beating other people. I cannot even stop an 11-year-old from slashing his mother's throat, as happened recently; but I can and will defend my family and home. It would be total insanity for me to ever give up this right.

However, in the spirit of good old American compromise, I will agree to give up my Second Amendment and its rights immediately after Mr. Seamans gives up his First Amendment rights. How does he like that idea? FRANK F. ELLIS III ROANOKE

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