Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 12, 1993 TAG: 9302120529
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A LIMIT ON `ASSAULT EDITORIALS'?
DO I need to buy 12 handguns per year? No. Do you need to publish seven editorials per week? No. Does the media need to pry into citizens' private lives and print things just short of blatant lies to sell more papers? No. But let someone propose legislation to curtail the latter two and I daresay you would scream that the world was coming to an end.Your editors piously proclaimed a totalitarian "just do it" (Jan. 28 editorial, "One gun a month? Just do it"), urging no compromise on Gov. Wilder's gun-a-month scheme. It could be argued that certain inflammatory editorials ("assault" editorials?) could incite people to riot. Should we limit editorials to just one per week? Should we say "just do it"? Of course not!
Freedom and responsibility go hand-in-hand. This applies to gun-owners and editors alike. If these rights are abused and the law is broken, there should be swift and sure punishment. The GOP compromise bill, plus the State Police instant check, ensures that only verified Virginia residents, without a felony history, can buy multiple handguns. This would also allow State Police to identify and investigate suspicious large purchases for possible gunrunning.
The framers of the Constitution worked long and hard to ensure that government protected peoples' rights and could not easily take them away. Before we even consider curtailing the rights of law-abiding citizens, we should vigorously enforce laws against criminals. I strongly believe in freedom of the press, but you seem perfectly willing to sacrifice my rights and freedoms. Are you willing to sacrifice yours? When you give up the First Amendment, I will give up the Second. MARK E. TODD PEARISBURG