THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 3, 1994 TAG: 9406030021
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Medium
DATELINE: 940603 LENGTH:
The matter is not which particular item is used to facilitate any crime, if that is indeed the case, but that crime occurs in the first place. Evidently, those who prepare and submit petitions, apparently agreed to by several thousand of the electorate, were overruled by a overwhelming number of citizens of this commonwealth, to whom our fundamental rights remain paramount.
{REST} The continuing attempts to attack any of the allowances of the Constitution and/or the Bill of Rights can, in my opinion, also be considered a crime. Taking this a step further, are the often misleading questions and statements preceding the signature lines of petitions, or even the petition itself, considered a weapon of crime worth regulating? I think not.
Our forefathers clearly recognized that an adequate level of deterrence is our first and most-effective means to take this raging bull of crime by the horns. The next best, but no less effective, means to reduce the potential for crime are a strong family and an acute self-awareness. None of these involve reducing or eliminating any of our civil liberties but demand that we freely exercise those which we already have. Visit any number of countries and it soon becomes apparent that we in America truly have something special.
We all must now realize that there is no new world to discover, no new place to which those seeking personal freedom from oppression can sail, and the chance to recreate the United States of America is virtually eliminated. What we have must be protected to the extreme.
Congressman Pickett clearly understands this, and although some of those he represents may not be pleased with his recent actions, there seem to be many more who truly appreciate his care and concern. You see, the Honorable Congressman Pickett will serve to protect the petitioners' rights also.
CARL D. THOMAS
Virginia Beach, May 18, 1994 by CNB