Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 16, 1993 TAG: 9310280344
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The first of these, community-based policing, is, put simply, the revival of the old concept of a police officer walking a beat in a neighborhood, one which Dolan believes would liberate law-abiding residents from the prison of fear in their homes. Additionally, it would bridge the gap between the citizen and police by bringing the two in closer contact, an idea that has proved successful - as witness the recently inaugurated COPE program.
Second, Dolan champions a five-day waiting period for the purchase of handguns, a message undoubtedly meant to reduce the quantity of weapons reaching the criminal element. This would ensure that law-abiding citizens' rights to own firearms are protected by weeding out those unfit to bear arms before they can acquire them. It may be true, as the old adage states, that people, not guns, kill p eople. But that doesn't mean that gun control is unnecessary.
Finally, Dolan supports a prohibition on semi-automatic assault weapons, such as the Mac-10, Mac-11 and the Tec-9. It is his opinion that today's law- enforcement officials daily face criminals who are armed with equal or greater firepower. The result, he says, is that ``too often, our law-enforcement efforts are simply outgunned.''
What does his opponent think about gun control? He opposes it in any shape or form, branding the latter two proposals ``gimmicks.'' We need an attorney general who doesn't treat life-and-death issues in so cavalier a manner. For that reason, I'm voting for Dolan.
MELVIN E. MATTHEWS JR.
ROANOKE
I-73 would benefit region
I'M SICK of reading and hearing about the ``smart highway'' and the benefits it would bring. It's very political and would mainly benefit Virginia Tech and Hotel Roanoke.
It is, however, refreshing to read where someone sees an opportunity to capitalize on a highway proposal that would benefit many localities, not just a chosen few. I'm speaking of the proposal to bring Interstate 73 from Princeton on an existing but upgraded U.S. 460 to Blacksburg, then on the proposed smart highway, on existing I-81 to Roanoke, and south on an existing but upgraded U.S. 220 to North Carolina.
Can you imagine the impact and benefit such a highway would give this entire region, rather than the selfish and costly proposal of a single smart highway by itself?
It's time our elected officials get their heads out of the sand and rid themselves of tunnel vision. If the smart highway is so futuristic, then why not look to the future and the needs of the entire area for the future.
Remember about 30 years ago when the proposed I-81 could have been built through the same route of the proposed smart highway at a fraction of the cost? Let's not let it happen again. Need I say more?
ROGER AVERHART
BLACKSBURG
Beyer ad makes case for Farris
I'VE SEEN the Don Beyer ad trying to discredit Mike Farris, which is very much out of context.
I'm also against child-abuse prevention laws when they treat good parents with Gestapo-like tactics. An example of the Beyer-Terry-Dolan mentality along this line is the present law that says my 10-year-old daughter can get on a school bus, a guidance counselor at school can take her to her abortion appointment, bring her back to school, put her on the school bus to come home, and I'll never know - just in case I'm abusive. I dare anyone to tell me that doesn't violate my parental rights!
I'm also against abortion, including in cases of rape and incest (except to protect the life of the mother, which goes without saying). But I can pretty confidently speak for Farris in that he would be very grateful for legislation making abortion illegal, except in cases of rape and incest, since more than 95 percent of all abortions then would be illegal.
This ad gives me some previously unrealized insight into Beyer.
SUSAN JASEK
ROANOKE
Mike Farris supports people
I MET Mike Farris, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, recently. Based on our meeting and what he had to say, the Roanoke Times & World-News has been very negatively biased in its reporting of this highly qualified candidate.
Farris is personable, genuine, intelligent and extremely capable of holding public office. He's committed to educational reform and to decreasing our state's spiraling bureaucracy that is stifling economic growth. His concept of government is the most pragmatic that I've seen in recent times.
Don Beyer is nothing but another tax-and-spend liberal who claims to be pro- business and for deficit reduction, yet he continually votes for more regulation of businesses and he is quite in debt himself. Left to his type, the state will burden our children and grandchildren with public debt that will ruin them.
My vote for lieutenant governor goes to Farris - a candidate in support of the people, as opposed to big government, and one who represents real change.
SARAH JANE ANDREWS
ROANOKE
by CNB