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

DATE: SUNDAY, January 24, 1993                   TAG: 9301250265
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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GUN-CONTROL POLLS ARE NOT CONVINCING

THANK YOU for the great stories, "A `grim reaper' state?" and "NRA calls the shots on gun issues," in the Jan. 10 issue of the Roanoke Times & World-News. They made great editorial statements, but were on the wrong pages. If these were not meant to be editorials, I want to nominate them for the All-Time Most Biased, Unresearched, Inaccurate and Untruthful Articles list. Telling one's opinions concerning a very limited view of an issue is editorializing, and professional journalism requires telling the entire story.

We are given all kinds of unqualified statistics expressing the negative uses of firearms, and handguns in particular. But what about all of the crimes prevented by the lawful use of handguns? How many lives are saved each year by the lawful use of handguns? Where has any gun-control law had a significant effect in reducing crime? Are the statistics biased to support your argument?

We are told that "nine out of 10 Americans favor more gun control." However, we are also told, that "at a raucous session in Wytheville" the 30 citizens who spoke adamantly opposed any restrictions on gun purchases. In Virginia Beach, all but two speakers opposed new laws.

Could it be possible that the polls stating that the vast majority of Americans favors gun control are inaccurate? Purposely biased? A poll can be conducted to express whatever the poll-taker wishes it to express. I find it hard to believe 90 percent of Americans could agree on anything. THOMAS H. BLEVINS SUGAR GROVE

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