Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 17, 1995 TAG: 9505170048
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BATES
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
After mourning the Oklahoma victims, our task is to focus on active measures to root out terrorists and ensure as best we can the safety of every Virginian. There are steps we can take to protect our homes and families from attack.
Virginia already has been subject to the attack of terrorists, and lives have been lost. In the past few years, office workers at the CIA headquarters in Northern Virginia were killed by international terrorists. A domestic terrorist who already had taken several lives shot up a building in downtown Norfolk. Virginians have been attacked, and so it is proper that we develop a strong and effective response to those who would use violence and fear to undermine our society.
The governor could take the lead and call together state, local and federal authorities responsible for the security of all potential targets in the commonwealth. There are hundreds of federal and state facilities across Virginia that house thousands of workers, all of whom could be targets of extremist violence. Procedures for building security should be reviewed top to bottom and measures taken to apply the lessons learned from Oklahoma City and other such incidents. The employees in these buildings and the public have a right to go about their business without fear of violence.
Gov. George Allen also could direct state and local law-enforcement officials to share information on extremist groups known to have violent tendencies and a capability to take violent action. Bits and pieces of information that may not seem important on their own may come together to expose a threat to the security of our citizens. An anti-terrorism office under the secretary of public safety could coordinate this information and work with federal officials to get a complete picture of the threat facing Virginia.
State agencies should review plans on how to react to an attack on their personnel and the general public. The agencies responsible for public safety and disaster planning should work with local officials at potential target sites to plan for rescue and treatment of victims in the event of different kinds of attacks. In the face of poison gas attacks in Japan, it is clear that there are a variety of threats that require different types of response and preparedness.
State agencies should compare plans and share information with their counterparts in other states. Virginians can learn from the experience of others in finding the most effective ways to prevent and deal with the consequences of terrorist attacks.
Prevention is one part of the equation, but we must go on the offensive against terrorists and pre-empt their actions before innocents are killed. Virginians should contact their members of Congress and urge them to give the FBI greater powers of surveillance and infiltration of hate groups across the nation.
Under current law, imposed after excesses during the 1950's and 1960's, federal law-enforcement agencies are limited in their ability to gather information on extremist groups. The best way to head off terror attacks is to know the plans and intentions of groups who advocate the overthrow of our system of democracy. We cannot allow terrorists and cowards to hide behind the freedoms that they would seek to deny us.
Law enforcement at all levels should be allowed to set up "stings" and other measures to capture terrorists before they have a chance to inflict real harm. There should be a policy of seeking out these lunatics and rooting them out before they get the initiative.
Law enforcement should work cooperatively with the many law-abiding and legitimate gun dealers across Virginia and the nation. Second Amendment rights held by law-abiding citizens should not be lost due to the violent and demented acts of a lunatic fringe. It is in the best interest of gun dealers and law enforcement to work together to keep weapons away from known terrorists.
Finally, an important part of the long-term strategy to protect Virginians from terrorism is education. In all our schools from kindergarten to high school, some time should be taken to stress that a key to preserving our freedom is respect and tolerance for different people and their views.
The lesson should be that whether your neighbors speak Spanish, used to live in Vietnam, have a different skin color or another faith, we all love to live here because we are free. There is room for everyone in the American family. To enjoy our freedom, we have the responsibility of acting with tolerance and understanding. It's the only way to remove the hate that allows some to justify killing innocent men, women and children.
Church groups and civic groups can talk about these issues and hold meetings to further understanding between each other. These are actions we can all take without any government help and would be an effective move against the terrorists of tomorrow.
The tragedy in Oklahoma City left us with a great sense of anger and frustration at what to do against the cowardly threat of terrorism. Here in Virginia, we are not helpless, but can act to prevent further acts against our citizens. By urging our officials to take these steps and acting in our own communities, we will be honoring those who died in Oklahoma, protecting future generations and preserving the freedoms that terrorists seek to deny us all.
Scott Bates was secretary of the commonwealth during the Wilder administration.
by CNB