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

DATE: TUESDAY, February 2, 1993                   TAG: 9302020335
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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LOOK AT SOUTH CAROLINA

IN RESPONSE to a letter to the editor by Gary Schafer (Jan. 20):

Schafer has been misinformed about handgun rationing. South Carolina is the only other state that has enacted a law, which was passed in 1976, restricting the number of handguns purchased per month.

Now, according to Federal Bureau of Investigation uniform crime reports, South Carolina ranks as the fifth most violent state in the nation, while Virginia ranks 19th.

As far as Virginia being a gunrunning state, records also indicate that New York City and the District of Columbia criminals do not have Virginia residents purchase guns for them. They buy them here after they get a Virginia driver's license, which is very easy to get. This problem can be solved without punishing the law-abiding gun owners of this state.

The state assembly should pass anti-crime bills that require proof of residence to obtain a Virginia driver's license. This would prevent all nonresident criminals from buying any type of handgun. Also, increase penalties for committing violent crime with weapons.

I would like to add that I am not paranoid, eccentric, militant or narrow-minded. I am a law-abiding citizen who believes in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

WALTER J. BARKER\ DUGSPUR

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