---

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

DATE: MONDAY, January 25, 1993                   TAG: 9301250276
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

---

STOP BLAMING VIRGINIA FOR DEATHS

ANYONE wishing to convince gun enthusiasts that an effective gun-control law can be instigated must stop attacking them as rednecks who don't care about others. Most are ordinary people who care very much but don't wish to give up their rights for ineffective laws.

Second, they must stop insulting their intelligence by trying to pass ineffective laws that restrict honest citizens. They must begin to put the blame where it belongs, on the inability of our justice system to control drugs, criminals and the resultant violence instead of on Virginia. Unless and until some real progress is made in this area, people will continue to recognize the need for guns for self-protection.

Blaming Virginia for the death of 9-month-old Rayvon Jamison in New York is ridiculous, since it was admitted that there's no telling how many hands that gun passed through after being sold in Virginia. The fact that it was bought by a patient released from a state mental hospital brings up the question: Why wasn't that information required on the background check?

Ivan Kochnover of New York was killed during a robbery in his check-cashing business. His wife then applied for a gun permit, but despite her obvious need for one, had to wait almost eight months because of gun laws.

I don't belong to the National Rifle Association, but I'd like to thank them for protecting my right to gun ownership. PATRICIA HUTSON NEWPORT

---