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

DATE: SATURDAY, May 7, 1994                   TAG: 9405090128
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

BRIEFLY PUT . . .

FINALLY, by two votes - and with no help from Western Virginia lawmakers - the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday agreed that, well, yes, assault-style weapons ought to be banned.

We've already criticized 9th District Rep. Rick Boucher for his vote in committee against the bill. For the record, let's now add 5th District Rep. L. F. Payne and 6th District Rep. Robert Goodlatte to the hall of shame.

By itself, the ban won't make the streets of America safe again. But it's one step forward in what looks to be a long, tough job. Hunters don't need assault weapons. Police don't need them widely available on the streets. Give Western Virginia's congressmen demerits for putting the lamentations of the gun lobby ahead of the interests of public safety.

by CNB