---

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 5, 1993                   TAG: 9303050373
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

---

USE MONEY AS CRIME-CONTROL TOOL

THE OUTCRY over abuse of firearms is spiraling upward into a maelstrom of rhetoric and illogical appeals. The only solution that emotional and uninformed persons seem to be able to come up with is extreme - change the Constitution. Banning the use of firearms is not going to stop the killing. Some say that fewer guns will mean fewer shooting deaths. This is a dangerous presumption. Outlawing the ownership of firearms will only encourage the use of firearms by those who are the primary source of the trouble - the criminals who ignore the rights of others.

Standard punitive measures are proving inadequate in the war that we are losing against crime. Punishment for the abuse of firearms must send a clear and direct message to all who even consider owning a firearm: Abuse the right of ownership of firearms and you will pay for it the rest of your life.

What kind of punishment would send the appropriate message? We live in a society where money is king, so use that to decrease crime. Here are a number of ways finances may be used to control crime:

Making parents financially responsible when their kid misuses a weapon;

Denial of the use of any public funds for any reason;

Mandatory liens where all earnings over minimum wage goes to the community.

The war against firearms abuse can be won if the right tools are used. KAREN E. SMITH SALEM

---