Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, January 3, 1994 TAG: 9401050186
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Yes, it's your job to inform the people when news happens and yes, it's your job to update us on the latest developments concerning the news, but your editorial on Dec. 27 (``Bedford's sheriff in the cookie jar") seemed to be a space filler; a rehash of past news. Are you that desperate to fill spaces that you need to continue this format of character crucifixion on a man who has served his county well for many years?
I've seen less space given to murderers and rapists, and then in only one issue. Have any on your staff given as much press to the successes in cases in which Carl Wells' department has been involved?
You are trying to undermine a county's stability in law enforcement and public trust by continuing.
Let those without guilt cast the first stone. Stop knocking Bedford County and try some positive press for a change.
BRYAN S. WALKER
HUDDLESTON
Flash for Clinton: guns, drugs linked
IT HAS now become very clear that our beloved president and his remaining selection of helpers are just slow starters. New ideas are now flowing out of Washington almost daily. The most recent of these seem to address three of our most pressing concerns: jobs, crime and the drug problem. Why, just recently Bill announced that he would support a drivers-license-style system for registering gun ownership.
I can see how this would give the federal government a very valuable record on every law-abiding gun owner in this country. We all know that these are the real killers. As for the jobs issue, this would surely create thousands of new ones in Washington. Another great idea was reported in this paper on Dec. 8. The surgeon general, Joycelyn Elders, said legalizing drugs would "markedly reduce our crime rate" (``Make drugs legal, surgeon general says"). What a marvelous idea: Reduce the crime rate, get rid of the illegal-drug problem, and then Bill could inhale. All of this makes one wonder if some day these two might even come up with the idea that somehow the gun problem and the drug problem might be related.
RUSSELL DUNCAN
SALEM
No sacred cows in this country
OWNERS OF the Boar Walla shooting farm would like the public to think they offer a challenging experience in wild-game hunting. In reality, however, according to the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, all the animals present on the property are simply domestic species over which the department has no jurisdiction.
In other words, Boar Walla is the sheep-and-hog equivalent of the free-range chicken that the animal-rights wackos have been advocating as an alternative to caged layers for years.
Whether such shooting farms generate negative public relations for shooting sports and hunting is probably not in doubt. I'm sure most hunters would not look upon killing a domestic ram or boar in a 135-acre fenced area as terribly challenging. I know I certainly wouldn't.
If people who are attracted to this setting would look around, they would probably find a local cattle farmer who would charge them two prices for the privilege of shooting a cow and then getting a usable piece of beef to boot.
Likewise, the animal-rights groups that have been picketing and pitching a fit over Boar Walla would like the public to think they are simply concerned over cruel and inhumane treatment of the animals there, when the real issue they are mad about is the fact that these animals will be killed, period.
The animal-rights philosophy wants to establish an animal-welfare state here as in India, where cows wander around freely, eat anything they want and defecate anywhere they want, as if they owned the place. In contrast to this, livestock farmers and ethical hunters want to ensure that animals are raised and kept in a proper state of welfare until they fulfill their purpose.
Sorry, folks, but the only way animals are going to be valued and properly provided for is when they perform some useful purpose for the public or for private individuals, whether that purpose be food, fiber or viewing.
DON L. GARDNER
HUDDLESTON
Wanting to be more like Rush
I'M ALSO an overweight, pompous, conceited, obnoxious, self-centered, narrow-minded idiot.
If anyone can help me achieve Rush Limbaugh's recognition, I'll split with them.
ED PLUNKETT
ROANOKE
Give baby-to-be the right to choose
NO DOUBT in my mind: Everybody is pro-choice.
Think about it! Wasn't it you who chose to date that person? Wasn't it you who decided to get romantically involved? Wasn't it you who decided to go "all the way"? Before you got pregnant you made many choices. And you know what? You had the "right." It's your life, your body!
But now you are pregnant. It's no longer a question of "choice" - you already made it. Now it's a question of responsibility to ensure that the baby-to-be has its right to choose. Doing anything else is animalism.
Yep. We're all pro-choice. Just choose wisely for yourself.
RAYMOND F. McKEE
ROANOKE
by CNB