HOW MANY MORE KIDS MUST DIE?

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

DATE: MONDAY, January 11, 1993                   TAG: 9301120387
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short
HOW MANY MORE KIDS MUST DIE?
WHEN I READ news stories about teen-agers accidentally shooting one another in "quick draw" contests, or when adolescents shoot themselves, I thank my lucky stars that the Constitution guarantees each and every law-abiding one of us the right to keep and bear arms.
When I hear of young people and innocent bystanders killed in gang violence, drive-by shootings and drug-related incidents, I am filled with surpassing joy that the National Rifle Association has such a powerful lobby in the legislature and is more than willing to look after my interests.
To be fair to the NRA, I applaud its efforts to educate gun owners. But can anyone stop a bullet in midair? Can anyone reverse the effects of a bullet when it meets a human target? Can anyone take away the pain that the victim's family, friends or other loved ones are feeling?
I realize that guns don't kill people, but people kill people. I realize that those with suicidal tendencies will find other ways to act upon those tendencies, even without guns. I realize that senseless killings would not stop, with or without gun control.
I do not pretend to have answers to these difficult questions, but do we really have to make access to firearms so easy? How many more young people will die this year? MATT HART CHRISTIANSBURG

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB