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

DATE: SUNDAY, February 14, 1993                   TAG: 9302150285
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: D-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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KEEPING AND BEARING ARMS

MARCIA Weis' letter to the editor (Jan. 30, "No longer the 19th century") states that "the constitutional right to bear arms was intended for militiamen, not every Tom, Dick and Mary."

My dictionary defines militia:

1. (a) A citizen army, as distinct from a body of professional soldiers.

2. The able-bodied male citizens who are not members of regular armed forces.

3. The whole body of physically fit male civilians eligible by law for military services.

Our current standards of equality would require that we drop the "male" part of the definitions.

In 1789, militiamen were required to supply their own arms. The Founding Fathers' intent is very clear, "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." It is clear also that the words "citizen," "civilians," and "the people" are synonyms, and that "the right to keep and bear arms" was, in fact, intended for Tom, Dick, Mary and every other responsible citizen. GEORGE BEAVER DUBLIN

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