Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 17, 1995 TAG: 9502180023
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Let's save American taxpayers millions of dollars by cutting out combat-readiness training for the fairer sex.
In recent times, it's been decided that it's OK for women to become fighter pilots (a job where they don't roll in the mud or receive an enemy's bayonet wound). But as an ex-combat infantryman who fought on the front lines, I agree with the reasons ``Newty'' Gingrich and Wiatt give as to why women don't belong in foxholes.
Besides, they might get hurt.
BING GRINDLE
ROANOKE
Laws will always be broken
YOU CAN'T win 'em all, as you found out with the General Assembly's failure to pass the no-guns-in-parks bill (Feb. 10 editorial, ``No six-packs, but six-shooters? Sure''). Your endorsement and support of seemingly anything anti-gun met with failure on this one. Too bad. And you were going pretty well for a time with Clinton getting his ``crime bill,'' the Brady bill, and your usual ``broken the back of the National Rifle Association'' preaching.
I'm curious how the law would work prohibiting guns in city parks. Would there be a system like the one shown in old Western movies where gunslingers would check their guns with the marshal or sheriff? In this case, they'd be checked at the park entrance, of course, to a member of the local law-enforcement agency. But what about that concealed-weapons law? Wouldn't checking in place anyone doing such a thing in jeopardy, unless he had a permit to carry a concealed weapon? Aw shucks! And the guy most likely to be a law-abiding citizen, carrying his handgun openly in a holster, certainly would get a lot of attention, too.
Murder, which happens all the time, proves laws will always be broken by those hellbent on doing so. Another gun law?
FRANK H. MILES
BEDFORD
Without further ado, move the trailer
NOW FOR the rest of the story concerning the Jan. 12 article ``Frozen out on the wrong side of the line'':
We're taxpaying, property owners living in Roanoke County where property value is supposed to be protected by zoning laws.
Frances Lamb was aware of Roanoke County zoning regulations before she moved her trailer to Williby Road, and then tried to bypass the zoning board by going to Montgomery County to obtain well, septic and electricity permits.
Montgomery County issued the permits because she said her trailer was located in Montgomery County. However, the trailer was never there. Once Montgomery County found out about her scheme, it revoked the permits - thus, no electricity.
This is when Lamb returned to Roanoke County, attended a county supervisors' meeting pleading for their help, and started playing on the sympathies of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors and the public. She's been misleading, and she is not the object of red tape.
Her trailer is illegally parked according to Roanoke County zoning laws, and should be moved. Who is protecting our rights as tax-paying property-owners?
LARRY and CAROLYN MARKLE
SALEM
Gov. Allen misread the voters' mandate
OBVIOUSLY, Gov. George Allen and his friends in the legislature haven't heard the message of the people of Virginia. We elected him to improve education and anti-crime measures, among other things. He's ignored the people by cutting education, law enforcement, at-risk programs, dropout-prevention programs and other services crucial to Virginia's future.
Allen wants to cut money from education to spend on prisons - more than $400 million. No wonder his approval ratings have gone down.
Republicans will pay the price in November, when they come up for re-election, for ignoring the voice and reason of the people.
JAMES W. LAYNE
CLINTWOOD
by CNB