THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, February 15, 1997           TAG: 9702150006
SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A12  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                            LENGTH:   23 lines

DON'T SHOOT DOWN RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS

Perhaps those of us who fail to rally to the cry of ``Survivors, unite!'' (editorial, Feb. 10) recognize something lost on those who promote gun control - our loved ones were killed with firearms, not by firearms.

It is a delusion to assume that the bereaved survivors of violence ought to respond in a monolithic fashion. It is the pinnacle of arrogance to suggest that we should petition the federal government to take away still more of our liberty in return for the promise of safety.

Those of us who support the freedom to keep and bear arms believe that the best way to prevent firearm accidents is to teach firearm safety. The best way to prevent violent crime is to make sure the price of such behavior is so great that the few that choose to engage in it anyway are removed from society until they are no longer a threat.

GEORGE A. FOSTER JR.

Chesapeake, Feb. 10, 1997