Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 26, 1994 TAG: 9403280136
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Do we have a shortage of qualifiers? Drunken drivers in the recent rash of manslaughter cases were all legally drunk under the old, obsolete level. In fact, police confirm they have little trouble finding violators at the present blood-alcohol level.
Richmond should be made aware that our problem doesn't lie in getting enough people arrested. Our law-enforcement agencies do an efficient job; some officers arrest the same offenders again and again.
While the rest of the proposed legislation is a step in the right direction, mandatory jail time or abuse education (which could be funded by the violator) isn't mentioned.
Another problem addressed by the new bill is under-age drunken driving. There's currently unenforced law pertaining to possession of alcohol by minors. Alcohol content in your bloodstream is about as ``possessing'' as you can get. The drunken driver should get his due, but intoxicated minors in the same auto should also be penalized.
Representatives in Richmond can reduce the blood-alcohol level, but until there are real consequences for already illegal acts, we'll continue to see bloody crashes and innocent lives lost. Addiction is a disease, and repeat offenders afflicted with this disease aren't capable of good judgment. Moral deterioration prevents them from having healthy respect of law and order.
We must restrict the repeat offender's ability to drive intoxicated again. We must impress the first-time offender in a way that will forever discourage another violation. Mandatory jail time, inpatient treatment, loss of license and fines are necessary to prevent the senseless loss of lives. This should apply to the wealthy and/or affluent and their families as well.
Those who've committed these crimes are otherwise decent human beings. Even though they're victims of a dreaded disease, they must take responsibility for themselves for the protection of the entire community.
DUANE R. PANNELL CHRISTIANSBURG
Uninsured rely on emergency rooms
I'VE FOLLOWED with interest news stories, editorials, opinions and letters to the editor printed in this newspaper concerning health-care reform.
A Feb. 24 letter by Patricia P. Hammond and Robert Maybin (``No fairness in health-care reforms'') struck me as being particularly mean-spirited. They said universal health-care coverage was unfair to hard-working individuals.
Presumably, they have health coverage, no health problems and money. Unfortunately, people with all of these find out how vulnerable they are when a family member has a serious health problem. I invite Ms. Hammond and Maybin to spend a day and a night in a local hospital's emergency room to get a better idea of health-care problems and the economics. They may encounter many who are ``hard working'' and have neither health insurance nor money.
Hospitals in my area have as many as 70 percent of patients coming to the emergency rooms who aren't emergency cases. They are without health insurance. Would they support heavy taxes on alcohol, tobacco, potato chips and other high-fat content foods?
It was a pleasant surprise to read Henry H. Roos' Feb. 25 letter about Canada's health care (``Canada has superior health care''). I hope this newspaper will continue to provide critical attention to all the plans.
We need health-care reform. I hope we'll get universal health coverage with a specific benefit package that can't be lost by previous or future ailments and is transferable.
ROBERT VESSEY MEADOWVIEW
Good news encourages others
WE HEAR on radio and television and see in newspapers and magazines so much of the disagreeable things of life that I want to commend you for the March 6 Extra section article regarding people who had been helpful (``Just when you thought there was a shortage of kindness'' by staff writer Kathy Wilson). That was such a positive thing to do, and it will encourage countless people who live their lives helping others.
Also, the March 7 news article on Ray and Mildred Arnold and their role in securing substitute teachers for the city schools was a positive and informative one (``He keeps someone in front of blackboard'' by staff writer Joel Turner). And, while I'm at it, I do appreciate your giving as much coverage as you do to church and other religious activities.
I'm aware you're criticized for some articles, such as the one on March 8 about the gays in Radford (Associated Press article, ``HBO features Radford lesbians; wedding may follow graduation''). But I appreciate some of the articles that I feel encourage people to live useful and helpful lives.
JOHN D. COCHRAN Minister of Education and Pastoral Care First Baptist Church ROANOKE
by CNB