THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 25, 1996 TAG: 9607250003
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 32 lines
I strongly disagree with the views in ``The CDC and the NRA'' (editorial, July 20). It is exactly this sort of misuse of a government agency as a bludgeon in political dispute that most people dislike so intensely.
While the data may be sobering, even appalling to some, it is just this sort of unnecessary mission-creep in agencies that bloats budgets and causes lack of citizen confidence.
There are more than enough bean-counters along the way to compile these data, like the agencies of the criminal-justice system whose duty it is to compile such, and the FBI's Uniform Crime Report, as well as various other agencies.
And one need only look how far afield from ``disease/health'' issues this proposed ``study'' goes; education, penology, law and legis-lation. What's next as a ``health'' issue for study; teenagers and the automobile?
Sad to say, there are more than enough true diseases and health issues for legitimate study that will languish while this political fight goes on. As for me, I don't wish to have my tax dollars squandered more than they are in a masquerade of pursuit of a grasp of the obvious.
Congress should decide to define the CDC's role to disease, regardless of whether or not it pleases or displeases NRA-ers or anyone else. Scarce research dollars should not be squandered in redundant bean-counting, on things that organizations like HCI plunge into with zeal.
ED SOLESKY
Chesapeake, July 20, 1996 by CNB