Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, November 22, 1993 TAG: 9311230397
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The Los Angeles riots have clearly demonstrated the absurdity of gun-control laws. Criminals looted many small businesses, including gun shops, during those tragic days. They didn't have to wait at all to steal thousands of firearms. Law-abiding citizens, however, couldn't exercise their constitutional right to keep and bear arms at a very crucial moment because of the 15-day waiting period imposed on them by California's immoral lawmakers. No doubt some people died because they couldn't defend themselves against the barbarians.
Even if a waiting period will cost only one life, let's oppose it.
ILYA BELOOZEROV
BLACKSBURG
Call-in shows reflect U.S. cynicism
THE REASON the North American Free Trade Agreement wasn't a sure thing in Congress is that too many members put getting re-elected over doing what's right for the country. If you think our country isn't made up of government-hating, cynical populists, tune in to the call-in programs on C-SPAN. Why are liberals so shy?
BOB SHIELDS
ROANOKE
Must `anything go' on television?
REGARDING Steven L. Knowles' Oct. 27 letter to the editor (``TV show should not be blamed''):
I bet he's in his 20s or younger and that he has no children at home. I've never watched ``Beavis and Butt-head'' from beginning to end, simply because this cartoon is very offensive in what it teaches its young viewers.
One day while scanning the TV dial, I stopped when I found a music video playing on ``Beavis.'' The characters can be heard in the background saying ``this band sucks'' and ``this band can really kick some a--!'' I saw the clip on the evening news about how it teaches how ``very cool'' it is to play with fire. Children f+icano be influenced by what they see and hear on television or anywhere else.
Another news story on the same day as Knowles' letter, on the front page yet, was about a "haunted house" that was gleefully hanging Barney the dinosaur. Millions of children love Barney, but there was only one complaint out of 1,600 who witnessed the execution. The hanging should've never been a part of the haunted-house event, and ``Beavis and Butt-head'' should clean its act up. But, hey, it's the '90s and anything goes.
Today's young people are tomorrow's leaders. Heaven help us all.
KEITH HAMBLIN
BELSPRING
Let kids have their purple hero
BARNEY-bashers should really think about the message they're sending to our children.
We as parents and as a nation are concerned about the violence our children view on television. We want to boost their self-esteem and teach them to be kind to others. We have 150 minutes of tremendous opportunity a week. Barney encourages politeness, gentleness, love and resourcefulness.
What must it say to children to see would-be leaders of the community put Barney out to hang (Oct. 27 Associated Press story, ```I hate you, you hate me'; Barney finally hangs in tree'')? Are we telling our children that if they try to be really kind and thoughtful they'll be ridiculed by society? Children are drawn to the kindness of Barney and try to emulate him. Kids want a happy, loving world. Are we telling them that it's impossible? Have we become so jaded that we really think it's uncool to be kind?
I realize hanging Barney was only a Halloween prank, but it was clearly an inappropriate one. In a world filled with drugs, disease and violence, let the children have one ``sweety-sweet'' purple hero.
LISA POOLE
ROANOKE
Car phones may cause accidents
ALTHOUGH it never receives the publicity, there are thousands of people killed and maimed every year by just plain thoughtless and inattentive drivers. Now we're allowing them to have cellular phones in their cars. These folks don't need another distraction.
The combination of carelessness and a 3,000- or 4,000-pound juggernaut that's not under full control can, and has been many times, lethal.
Cellular phones should be restricted to emergency vehicles, certain businesses and possibly a few other special applications.
To allow them for convenience is insane.
STANLEY A. KNOTT
MARTINSVILLE
If smokers quit, who next to tax?
BEFORE the sorry cigarette tax of 75 cents per pack is levied upon us sinful smokers, I assume the business element of this country has anticipated the reduction in annual sales and income that will come as a result of this tax. Further, this reduced income will only lead to less hiring and more layoffs from existing jobs.
It may seem insignificant at first glance, the impact that 75 cents per pack is going to have on the economy. However, let's look at my case, as only one family out of the millions countrywide.
We're a two-smoker family, at about 21/2 packs per day. This amounts to about $100 per month in added taxes that can be taken out of the economy. Each family, in the same situation, will either have to give up smoking or forego purchasing as much as before. It's as simple as that.
I don't think I owe the population of the United States $100 a month to pay for their health costs, just because we have been media-blitzed and brainwashed into believing that if you whiff cigarette smoke you're going to die. My doctor bills in the past 40 years or more of smoking have totaled less than $500.
So, if you business people and charities out there experience a drop in sales and contributions, you'll know why. Better still, let's all quit smoking and let Ms. Clinton tax someone else. Sorry about that, but you nonsmokers are next.
FREDDIE L. COOPER
VINTON
Do not change Halloween night
MONTGOMERY County was one of the counties that didn't change Halloween to Saturday. On Saturday evening, we had kids trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. I told one child, with parent listening, we were celebrating Halloween on Sunday.
When Halloween falls on a Sunday, statewide we should celebrate on Saturday. The kids were out in one area on Saturday and in another area on Sunday. This was ridiculous. We had to keep lights off and move our cars, because of fear of vandalism both nights.
Next year let's have Halloween one night, or better yet, outlaw the whole thing!
BARBARA DILLARD
ELLISTON
Humane death is not best answer
WALKER Nelms, vice president of the Roanoke Valley Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, in his Nov. 7 letter to the editor (``Animal-control laws help animals, too'') made very clear his answer to cat overpopulation. If he wishes to be a leader in this area's fight against rabies and wishes to impart the importance of animal-control ordinances, he might try a more realistic and humane approach. The answer is not ``death by humane society'' but enactment of local laws that enforce pet owners to spay or neuter. Not once did this officer of our local humane society use these words.
Why not use his position to become a true champion of the animals and try to get local lawmakers to have animal population-control ordinances that make it illegal to own a pet that is not spayed or neutered? There are states that have enacted such laws. Maryland fines cat or dog owners who have not sterilized their companion animals. Many localities operate free clinics to alleviate the burden of overpopulation. The Humane Society of the United States has proposed a voluntary temporary ban on all breeding of dogs and cats until the existing population has found homes.
The true champions of the animals are the people who have started organizations such as the Pet Assistance League to provide low-cost spaying and neutering for responsible pet owners. These are some better answers to the overpopulation problem than ``humane death by the SPCA.''
PENNY PRICE
SALEM
by CNB