THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 26, 1994 TAG: 9408260008
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 32 lines
Many people, from reading headlines rather than reports, have the erroneous impression that a judge has prohibited Republican Senate candidate Oliver North from carrying a gun.
Actually, the judge only rejected an application for renewal of Ollie's expired permit to carry a concealed handgun, which was originally requested as protection against ``foreign terrorists.'' Ollie can legally carry a gun, and should do so.
Wearing a handgun in a holster strapped outside his business suit, as he did outside his Marine suit in Vietnam, would be the ideal campaign move for Ollie now. He would be safer than before because the visibility of the holster and handle, even if the gun was not loaded, would deter an attacker more than fear that Ollie had a hard-to-reach weapon hidden under his bullet-proof vest.
Further, such a strapped-on gun would quickly identify Ollie and the principles of his campaign in all TV and personal appearances. Why hasn't his large and well-paid campaign staff recognized this? It would be the talk of the state and increase interest in his campaign.
PAUL SAUNIER JR.
Charlottesville, Aug. 15, 1994 by CNB