Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 16, 1993 TAG: 9312200311
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A18 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Make the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony an automatic 10 years in prison with no parole, in addition to the sentence received for the crime itself.
After three convictions on felony charges, the career criminals, and that's what they are, automatically remain in prison until death or upon reaching a very old age, say 80, when they can no longer harm other people.
These two changes in criminal law, along with building more no-nonsense, Spartan-type prisons, will greatly reduce crime. It will also enlist all honest citizens in the crime fight rather than turn them against government, which passage of even more restrictive ``gun-control'' laws will do.
Also, we all must be wondering what good placing an additional 100,000 policemen on our streets will do, since we're not even keeping criminals already locked up in prison there for a decent amount of time.
This idea of ``licensing'' and ``testing'' gun owners is so absurd and unreasonable that it would be funny if it weren't so dangerous. Criminals aren't going to check in for their ``license'' and law-abiding citizens aren't going to ``register'' their firearms, which is all ``licensing'' will be, because they know full well confiscation will quickly follow. Such laws will only breed more contempt for government and the rule of the law. It will be another nail in our coffin as we bury our freedoms.
FRANK F. ELLIS III
ROANOKE
Hard-working citizens insulted
THE ARTICLE (``Pregnant and proud'') by Beth Macy in the Nov. 18 Extra section did a disservice to young men and women, and was an insult to those who spend a lifetime working, only to see the results of our efforts drained off into anti-productive activities. It's wrong to indicate in any way that giving birth to illegitimate children is right. Such children (and their mothers) have little chance of a decent life.
Furthermore, it's wrong to make the rest of us spend our hard-earned income to support such irresponsible behavior. There are many forces undermining the strength of America. Illegitimacy is one of those leading forces.
I hope that in the future, the Roanoke Times & World-News will consider more carefully its responsibility to the community that supports it.
RICHARD G. NEAL
UNION HALL
Suspicions are confirmed
THE ``& Now This'' column of Nov. 29, which mentioned Roanoke's Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, was delightful. It confirmed several of my suspicions about the Roanoke Times & World-News.
The unnamed reporter who penned the story is truly a representative of the '90s Times-World. My voice mail tells me that we received one call Thanksgiving Day. It was at 5:31 p.m. The caller heard the message and then hung up. Suspicion No. 1 - some reporters at the newspaper don't get the message. By listening carefully, the reporter would've heard the recording that said that the ceremony was at 7 p.m.
Also confirmed is Suspicion No. 2 - nobody at the newspaper reads it. Your pages on Wednesday and Thursday carried our display ad clearly stating the ceremony started at 7 p.m.
It's nice to know that you still have our phone number. We weren't sure you still called people to find out what was going on. Keep up the good work!
LABAN JOHNSON
Special Events Coordinator
City of Roanoke
ROANOKE
Double standard on downtown parking
THERE have been several articles in the Roanoke Times & World-News recently (Nov. 6, ``Roanoke police want free parking'' and Nov. 27, ``Social workers join police in asking for free parking'' by staff writer Joel Turner) regarding a request for free downtown parking for the police department and others.
Why should these individuals think they're entitled to privileges that the rest of us cannot enjoy? This would be a double standard, one for those getting the free parking and another for the rest who have to pay.
I don't think City Council should even consider such a request. If there's a brotherhood among them, they can solve this problem without upsetting public interest.
RICE A. McNUTT
BLUE RIDGE
Brady Bill needed to control `need'
ALLOW me to say: Thank God, the Brady Bill passed. It's long overdue and an excellent stepping stone to controlling the sale and ultimately the possession of guns. Not that I'd ever want to deny anyone their ``right to bear arms,'' I just can't understand why anyone:
needs a gun instantly, unless the need is fueled by anger or frustration.
needs a rapid-fire assault rifle, unless the need is for assault, in keeping with its own description.
Please don't insult my intelligence with the answer that these weapons are used for hunting game animals. They're only used to hunt humans, and I seem to remember that hunting humans was an illegal sport.
CATHERINE L. WITTE
ROANOKE
Citizens have a right to choose
REGARDING the Nov. 26 editorial in the Roanoke Times & World-News, ``Selling hazards to women'':
To those of us who believe that the Second Amendment means no restrictions on gun ownership, statistics mean little. This pagan attitude has nothing to do with indifference to gun violence, but with the belief that certain rights, set forth in the Bill of Rights, should not be tampered with. People who own handguns may be more likely to be killed by ``a friend, relative or lover.'' But this shouldn't be interpreted to mean gun ownership should be restricted because guns are potentially dangerous.
While one may question the National Rifle Association's tactics, it's a mistake to assume that organization is the sole believer in unrestricted Second Amendment rights. And belief in this right among others has less to do with a desire for the proliferation of guns or a blood bath in America than it does with a concern that citizens, not governments, should have a right to choose whether or not to protect themselves.
RONALD and
ELIZABETH LANKFORD
CHRISTIANSBURG
Teen pregnancy hardly 'glorified'
REGARDING Beth Macy's Nov. 18 article, ``Pregnant and proud'' and the avalanche of unfavorable comments it has generated from readers who believed it glorified teen-age, illegitimate pregnancy:
This article was a masterpiece of powerful documentation and was extremely well-written. I commend the writer. Glorify teen pregnancy? Hardly!
The story described teen-age girls blithely going about the daily business of preparing for a baby, or a pregnancy, with all the foresight and wisdom of an 8-year-old planning a tea party for her dolls. This low-key, laid-back portrayal delivered a message with the subtlety of a thunderclap reminiscent of the Bill Moyer's program on PBS several years ago.
The discerning reader, aware of today's statistics, is left with an uneasiness and a vague question: I don't believe in scarlet-letter mentality, but how did we get from there to here so quickly? And the greater question, what can we do about it?
To the school principal and the psychologist who were ``absolutely outraged'' by this article and criticized the Roanoke Times & World-News, I say: You misunderstood. The newspaper didn't come through the front door with trumpets, but the message was there.
PATRICIA P. WIDNER
WYTHEVILLE
JFK's best brings out Garland's worst
REGARDING Ray Garland's grossly inaccurate and vitriolic Nov. 25 Commentary column (``JFK and the U.S.A.''):
Clearly, Garland should've followed his own family's tradition of dispensing prescriptions instead of so-called words of wisdom.
The legacy of JFK can never be measured in words. Many in the news media, like Garland, have done everything they can to destroy the memory of one who made us proud to be Americans, gave us an idealism of service to our country and earned the love and respect of people around the world.
How dare Garland refer to ``the arrogance of Kennedy's Inaugural Address''! He was calling on the best instincts of the American people instead of the self-centered, greedy philosophy that followed during the Nixon, Reagan and Bush years.
It's his kind of narrow-minded, misinformed vision of government that defeats a nation rather than giving it hope and purpose. Fortunately, we now have another president who follows the Kennedy philosophy and will call on our highest motives.
LYNNE ANDREWS
SANTA FE, N.M.
by CNB