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

DATE: FRIDAY, October 8, 1993                   TAG: 9310150379
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: WHIT GRAVELY
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

A RISING TIDE OF GUNS AND VIOLENCE

OVER THE years, I've read with sheer horror about the carnage and wrecked lives caused by our area's youth who insist on settling disputes with handguns and violence. I was saddened to read of the circumstances leading to the death of Percy Johnson and the arrest, conviction and sentencing of Dwayne Carlos Miller.

Each time I read about one of these incidents, two issues arise that cause me great anguish and distress.

Why are kids (and adults) walking around with handguns, and what value do we place on the taking of a human life in relation to the penalty we impose for lesser crimes?

There are deep, complex, societal issues and problems that cannot be remedied by a simple wave of the legislative magic wand. I understand the need for, and strongly support, a person's Second Amendment right to bear arms for self- defense of one's life and property. But should anyone have the right to walk around with a handgun, whose stealthy nature and use lends itself as the easiest and most convenient weapon of crime?

The answer: Get these things off the street and out of peoples' hands.

I cannot understand the argument that this action would infringe upon my right to bear arms. I'd much rather protect my home and life with a shotgun or semiautomatic rifle than a handgun, which in most cases is inaccurate and unreliable during a life-threatening situation. (Case in point, Laura Nazrini defending her life and property with a shotgun recently).

It would be nice to be able to walk around any street in this valley knowing that the person approaching does not have a handgun in his belt under his shirt! Let sportsmen and collectors keep their handguns under a special federal license, but get rid of this wholesale dumping of millions of handguns on the American public.

The second issue that confounds me is the inequities in our system of sentencing. Is taking a life less serious than nonviolent or white-collar crimes?

I was appalled to read that 18-year-old Miller pulled out a semiautomatic handgun and fired seven shots, thus disabling 17-year-old Johnson. He then took Johnson's own semiautomatic handgun and emptied the clip toward Johnson, with one bullet entering his forehead from close range. Does this act of second- degree murder not warrant more than a 14-year sentence with the possibility of parole in 21/2 years?

Does society want Miller walking the streets as a "rehabilitated person" in 2 1/2 to 14 years when nonviolent crimes often get the perpetrators longer sentences? Does this tell a young person growing up in an environment of crime and social decay that violence is acceptable and not punished as harshly, and human life doesn't mean much?

I tend to be conservative in my political views, but it appalls me that this gun-control issue is so highly resisted by conservative politicians and organizations. Those with handguns are killing thousands of liberal, conservative and apolitical Americans each year. It befuddles me how we as a people and nation that shine so brightly as a beacon of what's right in this world can be so wrong about this issue.

Please let someone come on the political scene who has the intestinal fortitude to tackle these issues and not buckle under to the well-financed lobbying and pressure of strong, special-interest groups, both liberal and conservative, who do not represent the wishes and rational thinking of the majority of Americans.

Let's all work together to get handguns and violent criminals off the streets.

Whit Gravely of Roanoke works at a local fragrance and cosmetic company.

by CNB