THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, September 15, 1995             TAG: 9509150019
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A22  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   27 lines

NOT NEEDED

I read with disgust your editorial ``Where `Roe' Stands'' (Aug. 15). Twice you characterized abortion as a ``need.'' ``Few Americans haven't wished . . . that legal abortion weren't necessary'' and ``The issue now should be . . . how to prevent the need.''

Food and water are needs; abortion isn't. It is simply a dreadful way out of a tough situation.

With the exception of rape or incest, that situation results from a conscious ``choice'' - yes or no to sex.

You characterize opponents of abortion as ``extremists'' and wanting to ``deny women the right.'' While I do not countenance the extreme tactics sometimes used by Operation Rescue, I do agree abortion should be outlawed.

JOHN S. LIN

Virginia Beach, Aug. 24, 1995 by CNB