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

DATE: SUNDAY, June 18, 1995                   TAG: 9506210002
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RON BROWN
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

HER REASONS WERE ALWAYS THE SAME

Linda Jean Hiner Campbell, 34, of Botetourt County had a concealed weapon permit for seven years. Last year, it was denied.

"They told me that my reasons weren't good enough," she said. "I'm disappointed."

What mystifies her is that her reason for needing the permit remained basically the same as when the permit was approved several times. Her husband is a Roanoke firefighter and stays away from home 24 hours at a time.

"If I go out by myself, I like to carry my weapon with me for my family's protection," she said.

The Campbells have a 20-month-old son.

Campbell, who got married in 1990, was first authorized a permit while she was single.

"My reason was good enough then," she said. "I just said I live alone."

She said she's willing to made until the new concealed weapon law goes into effect, even though she could have appealed Circuit Court Judge George E. Honts III's decision.

"I've been a law-abiding citizen," she said. "I didn't see a reason to take a day out of work to go out there and appeal. Fairly, I should have been given the permit."

by CNB