THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 15, 1995 TAG: 9503140016
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 37 lines
In ``Gun crazy'' (Commentary, March 5), staff writer Dave Addis proved former White House press secretary Dee Dee Myers right and Cole Campbell, editor of The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star, wrong. According to the Editor's Notebook (Page A2, March 5), one of Dee Dee's dictates for pseudo-journalism is, ``Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.'' Mr. Campbell listed examples from other papers but said, ``We work hard not to fall into these traps.''
Mr. Addis, referring to his Commentary piece, said the editor ``encouraged me to put some numbers in it, certain that statistics would lend authority'' about gun-carry laws. Not wanting to muddle the issue with facts, Dave said, ``If neither side trusts the other's numbers, then the debate should fall back on common sense.'' Whose? Obviously disgruntled with Virginia's new law, he said our legislature opted to drop standards altogether rather than work out reasonable ones. I like the unreasonableness of trusting law-abiding citizens.
As H. L. Mencken wrote, ``For every complex problem there's a simple solution, and it's usually wrong.'' The simple solution: Outlaw guns. More than 22,000 gun laws prove that doesn't work.
Complex problem-solving requires an analysis of the facts. Journalists can ensure facts don't get in the way; legislators can't.
Our legislators voted 69-29 to pass the Gun Carry Law. Accept it. Then work with them to find other answers. Together, we can defeat crime.
RICK GILE
Virginia Beach, March 6, 1995 by CNB