ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, February 24, 1996 TAG: 9602260001
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-9 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
I FEEL I must comment on your Feb. 16 editorial, ``Mixing booze and bullets.''
As is customary with liberal media types, the editorial writer naturally assumes that guns are inherently bad. Subsequently, anyone who would legally carry one would therefore be bad, crazy or unable to control herself or himself in a restaurant or bar.
The premise that easily obtainable carrying permits are a bad thing is typical liberal thinking. As if the U.S. Constitution didn't give us the right to personal protection - protection that our police will not or cannot guarantee us.
I also take issue with your depiction of Sen. Virgil Goode as a ``faithful servant of the gun lobby.'' The so-called gun lobby is comprised of thousands of law-abiding citizens who happen to believe in exercising their constitutional rights. As for Goode, he's an excellent legislator who also believes in the Constitution and its guarantees.
In fact, just the possibility that some patrons may be armed, as well as the innkeeper, may deter a robbery attempt.
DAVID A. RHODES
ROCKY MOUNT
County must uphold what it already has
NEW PROJECTS appear to be the only concern of Roanoke County government. Such projects have included the regional landfill on Bradshaw Road, the Roanoke County office building, the Spring Hollow Reservoir and land for a new high school projected 10 years down the road. Now, in a year or so, the new Cave Spring High School.
Why does there have to be a ``new'' agenda all the time? Why doesn't the county show some responsibility for maintaining its present schools by improving education (a new building won't offer this), making sure children have safe water at the Mason Cove and Northside middle schools, improving the heating system for the children at Mason Cove, maintaining our drainage system by cleaning culverts so residents' homes will not flood every time it rains, and clearing roads during snow and sleet so residents can get to work? This is a partial list of needs.
It's time the county manager and Board of Supervisors fulfill the job they were hired to do: taking care of the residents' needs instead of adding more tax responsibility on already burdened taxpayers.
ANN AMBURGEY
SALEM
Tag program lacks fairness
IN RESPONSE to your Jan. 28 editorial, "No more for need-based college aid?":
Your point that the cost-effectiveness of the TAG [Tuition Assistance Grant] program is limited because it isn't means-tested is right on the mark. I know students with whom I went to high school who are receiving tuition grants, but don't need the money, and will go to college regardless of receiving the grant.
An even more inefficient and unfair characteristic of the TAG program is that grants aren't given to all Virginia students attending a private college, only those who attend certain private colleges. I chose to attend National Business College, and I'm not eligible for TAG, along with thousands of other students who attend National each year.
Supporters of TAG claim that the program benefits Virginia by broadening educational opportunities for Virginians. Well, it hasn't broadened mine or those of thousands of other Virginia students. Our state tax dollars should be spent more wisely and fairly.
KENNETH E. PRILLAMAN
ROCKY MOUNT
Limited air service due to the terrain
REGARDING your Feb. 8 ``What's On Your Mind?'' column question titled ``Runway's no deterrent to bigger jets'':
Comparing Roanoke Regional Airport to Washington National Airport is very misleading. After you take off at Washington National, you follow a flat river compared with facing a 4,000-foot mountain at Roanoke. Also, during the summer months with the heat and high-passenger loads, Roanoke has more weight restrictions due to the mountainous terrain, which is the same reason Roanoke Airport Manager Jacqueline Shuck gave for not having any more air shows.
The column stated that the biggest plane flying into Roanoke is a Boeing 757. However, the 757 is very limited on weight that it can fly out with - meaning, it can land with more cargo than it can take off with.
You're correct about passenger traffic to support larger jets. Roanoke simply doesn't have the boardings to support larger aircraft. In fact, Continental reduced flights in Greensboro because it couldn't fill planes. There were many more passengers when Norfolk Southern's headquarters was based in Roanoke.
We're fortunate to have the quality of service that we have in Roanoke. I can list other cities with comparable populations that have many fewer destinations or hub connections.
MICHAEL BROWN
ROANOKE
LENGTH: Medium: 95 linesby CNB