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

DATE: THURSDAY, November 11, 1993                   TAG: 9311110496
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A14   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RUSSELL W. JOHNSON
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

STATE SHOULD CONTROL BULLETS, TOO

THE ELECTION is over and the voters of Virginia voted for their choice. George Allen will become the voice and ``front man'' for the National Rifle Association. They paid to get him elected and now will want something in return.

If I'm not mistaken, the new puppet governor will be told, not asked, to keep a lid on any bills coming across his desk that regard gun control. In other words, use his veto. It all boils down to one thing - money, the root of all evil. And the gun manufacturers, who are backers of the NRA, will want to keep profits rolling in. A strong gun-control law in any state would put a crimp in those huge profits, keep firearms out of the hands of those who shouldn't own them and, in turn, save lives. And the latter is the most important.

Now, gun owners in Virginia won't be hampered with any more fuss about buying guns. They will have a governor who speaks their language. We will still have the instant background check that will let a few slip through the cracks. The federal five-day waiting period is on the drawing boards in Washington, D.C., just waiting for the go sign.

During the campaign, Del. Dick Cranwell wanted to hear what I had to say. I told him how I felt about a strong gun-control law, and how it was done in New Jersey. As I spoke, I showed him my New Jersey Firearms ID Card and explained its use - to purchase a rifle or shotgun. But there was another purpose that came about later, which was its use in the purchase of ammunition.

You may have all the guns in the world, but what good are they without ammunition? None. My idea is this:

When a person purchases a firearm over the counter, after the instant background check checks out, they would be issued an identification card. The front of that card would have his or her name, address, a state number of some kind and, if possible, a photograph. On the reverse side, there would be his or her pedigree, such as date of birth, height, weight, color of eyes, Social Security number, etc. Also, there would be a space provided for a right-thumb print.

Any time someone wants to buy ammunition, he or she must show this card. No card, no ammunition. It'll be a simple matter for the state to provide an electronic gadget that will scan the friction ridges on the person's thumb with the ink impression on the card. It's as simple as that.

Going this route just might save some lives. Even if one life is saved, then all the trouble Virginia will go through in getting things together will pay for itself.

Russell W. Johnson of Vinton is a retired sergeant of police in New Jersey.

by CNB