ROANOKE TIMES 

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

DATE: THURSDAY, July 15, 1993                   TAG: 9307150433
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-14   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR GUN CONTROL IS QUESTIONABLE

IN RESPONSE to the July 9 news story by staff writer Margaret Edds, "Group wants gun ban," concerning a task force in Gov. Wilder's office that wants to ban a series of "assault weapons":

The news story quoted data taken from several Virginia cities, in which firearms of this general type accounted for 5 to 7 percent of the total confiscated by police.

In a recent report on public radio, O. Randolph Rollins, the state's secretary of public safety, was quoted as saying that even though these guns represent a low percentage of guns used in crime, their appearance was "upsetting" to people, and that in itself was enough reason for banning them.

The newspaper story related that restrictive gun laws in Virginia used to be anathama, but that today they enjoy " . . . wide public support."

Repeatedly, we see the results of polls that appear to support more restrictive gun laws, but anyone familiar with polls knows that data can be manipulated by the types of questions asked. I wonder what the percentage of responses would be to the question, "Should guns be banned on television programs?"

I suggest what people want is to have predatory criminals and sex-crime offenders locked up for a long time. People do not want guns restricted as an "alternative."

Gun-control bills are designed to create the impression that "something" is being done with a failed criminal-justice system, but what needs to be done is to hire more judges and prosecutors, clear prison beds of nonviolent offenders, and make sentencing real by reducing plea bargaining.

You would be surprised at the wide support that exists for reform of our criminal-justice system, especially if it were offered as an alternative in polls that are taken.

These are questions that need to be asked, and we should demand our politicians act on the responses. JOHN L. EBY JR. ROANOKE 


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