Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, December 2, 1994 TAG: 9412020024
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A16 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Just who do you think will comply with such a ban? Certainly not the criminal who plans to prey on the decent citizen who uses the park for legitimate purposes.
Such a ban will only serve the interests of the unlawful element that can rest assured intended victims are defenseless, thanks to gun-phobes intent on disarming decent people.
Fortunately, we have a governor who recognizes the need and right of the people to defend themselves, and who will again use his veto to spare Roanoke's citizens from this latest attempt to ``inconvenience'' the legitimate gun-owner.
ROGER A. PUJOL ROCKY MOUNT
How about holding feet to the fire?
REGARDING the Nov. 20 letter to the editor by Walter Robinson (``Put North's posters to good use'') saying that North supporters could burn the signs and stakes to keep warm.
That's very true. But tell me - how are Robb supporters going to keep warm? You can't burn lies.
FRANK S. EARLY BLACKSBURG
Billy Graham is a spiritual giant
HOW REFRESHING to find acknowledgement of the power of the Holy Spirit on the front page of this newspaper on Nov. 20! I commend and congratulate you and your staff writer, Cody Lowe, for the beautiful news article on Billy Graham and his family (``Billy Graham's legacy assured'').
In this age of cynicism, it was amazing to find not one caustic reference to Christians in this two-page feature. Thank you for giving this spiritual giant and the power within him some recognition.
MARYANNE F. DAVIDSON ROCKY GAP
Try to help homeless animals
I PICKED up a kitten at a Dumpster recently. He was bewildered and would have died had I not rescued him. Contrary to popular belief, cats don't survive on their own. A cat's life expectancy is one miserable year. They survive only because a few people feed them and capture them when possible. Stray animals are cold, hungry, frightened; most are ill, infested with worms and ear mites, and very vulnerable to rabies.
I mention the dumped kitten so you might think about animal cruelty. Throwing live kittens and puppies into Dumpsters is just as cruel as using them as bait for dog fights. During last winter's ice storm, a dog was tied to the Humane Society of Montgomery County's mailbox in the middle of the night. The shelter receives cats with flea collars imbedded so deep in their skin that surgery is required. (Don't allow cats to run at large wearing collars that won't break away.)
I rescued one cat that had been in a trap for days without food or water. Two years in a row, at the same location, small kittens have been found with their paws severed, burns on their bodies, and pins stuck in them. (All survived and were adopted.) I recently rescued three white cats whose owner had moved away and left them. All three had skin cancer due to sun exposure. All this cruelty has occured and continues to occur in the New River Valley.
It's important we take responsibility for all animals, not just our own. You can help by spaying and neutering your pets. Don't let them run at large. Donate your time and money to your local animal-welfare organization. And if you see a stray, help it.
Animal cruelty can only be stopped if everyone helps. During this holiday season, please remember the homeless animals and help them, if you can.
KATHY BROWN CHRISTIANSBURG
A good showcase for good teens
THANK YOU for ``Extra Credit,'' the new feature column for showcasing teens that make a difference. Special thanks to Joy Apple who was featured in that column on Nov. 21!
KERMIT POWELL ROANOKE
Stop him before he mouths off again
I CERTAINLY hope the Secret Service and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigate Sen. Jesse Helms' attack on our president (Nov. 23 article, ``Helms' friends squirm'' from the Associated Press) with the same vigor with which they reportedly investigated the recent attack on the White House by a potential assassin.
DON M. SHIPLEY ROCKY MOUNT
Warner showed guts and integrity
CONCERNING Phillip Andes' Nov. 23 letter to the editor, ``Warner won one - for Robb'':
If Andes wanted a Republican to beat Sen. Charles Robb, he's way off the mark criticizing Sen. John Warner. Rather, he should blame party leaders who nominated a felon in the first place. In view of the Republican landslide nationally, it should have been clear to Andes why Virginia was one of few states electing a Democrat, and a flawed one at that. Evidently, there were enough intelligent and responsible Republicans to prevent a national disgrace to our state.
Furthermore, what were Warner's ``personal'' differences and the ``personal vendetta'' to which Andes refers? Could they simply have been the repugnance of a decent, principled man to sending to the U.S. Senate a convicted felon, whatever his party, who considers himself above the law and the Constitution? And before there's an attempt to refute the label ``felon,'' let's remember: North was convicted, and he was never exonerated. His conviction was overturned on a technicality.
Warner showed guts and integrity in refusing to fall into lockstep with party hacks. I'm an independent and did not vote for Warner in the past, but he may well receive my vote the next time he runs.
MARCIA WEIS ROANOKE
The ups and downs of tax bills
I READ with interest your Nov. 23 editorial, ``The new federalism.'' Really, I could see very little that was new.
In a letter to the editor I wrote a few years back expressing my concern about ``revenue sharing,'' I noted that a round trip for our tax dollars to Washington and back was sure to cost more than a round trip for those same dollars to our state or local city/county government. I still hold to that concept.
The idea of cutting federal taxes with the expectation that state and local governments would increase their taxes to provide for local needs isn't new at all. Ex-President Ronald Reagan obviously reduced federal taxes with this in mind.
Virginians, I'm sure, don't want federal- or state-mandated programs without funds to carry them out. I like to think that state and local governmental bodies should be responsible for their own diverse financial needs.
I'm just days away from paying my local tax bill, which is based on what's said to be the fair market value of our property. Since my wife and I worked hard to build a home for our retirement years, not to place it on the market, why should we be taxed on this dreamed-up market value? Wouldn't it be better to base local taxes on earnings, as are our state income taxes? Should property be sold, any earnings should be taxed. But without earnings, where's the logic for increased taxes?
We, as retirees, have gotten no more services from local government than we did a number of years ago. We just have less money to pay taxes with.
ROBERT M. WIATT BLACKSBURG
Goalies couldn't have been nicer
I'M SORRY Michelle Banks had an unpleasant experience with some Roanoke Express hockey players (Nov. 20 letter to the editor, ``Some hockey players are rude''). Fallon Park Elementary School had asked the Express if it could arrange for a personal appearance of players to help us kick off a reading incentive program. Our contest theme is ``Get on Board the Fallon Park Reading Express,'' alluding to our area's railroad heritage, with a natural tie-in to the hockey club.
Our students were thrilled when goalies Dave Gagnon and Dan Ryder came to visit with us, along with radio announcer Tim Woodburn. The men inspired our 600-plus students with remembrances of books they had enjoyed as children, and talked of the importance of reading in our lives.
Our visitors couldn't have been nicer, and are a credit to the hockey team they represent so well. We're grateful for the contributions of their time, their incentive, and for their caring about the community as a whole.
GERALD W. McDEARMON Principal, Fallon Park Elementary School ROANOKE
by CNB