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Floyd's Opinion
Sniper AttacksOctober 21, 2002 Richmond Times-Dispatch P.O. Box 85333 Richmond, VA 23293 Attn: Editor of the Editorial Page Dear Sir, Just some observations and comments about recent events in the news. Regarding the closing of schools in the Richmond area today (October 21), because of the Ashland sniper attack, I would ask, "Why is this necessary?" Our legislature passed a law a few years back that created a "Gun Free Zone" around all schools in the Commonwealth. Doesn’t this sniper realize that he can be arrested for having a gun near a school in this state? I thought that this law was supposed to prevent gun violence from happening at schools. If the closing of schools was intended to keep the children out of harms way (I have two children in Chesterfield schools) then perhaps we should also close all local shopping malls. As I work at one of these malls I couldn’t help but notice the large numbers of children, with and without parents, who were traversing the parking lot heading into the mall. As some of the sniper attacks have already taken place at malls is it unreasonable to assume that the sniper could just as easily move from a closed school to the open mall and shoot a child there instead? On page B5 of this morning’s Times-Dispatch (October 21) was an article titled, "Nine people are killed in weekend road crashes". So far the year-to-date total of auto deaths for Virginia is 734. It has taken the sniper three weeks to kill nine people and the cries for gun-control, from the usual sources, is deafening. Given the number of deaths attributable to automobiles I await the hue and cry for a five-day waiting period to purchase a car. I also assume that certain areas of the Commonwealth will soon be designated "Car-Free Zones", and person-to-person sales of used autos must be stopped. Are those killed by autos any less dead? After all, if only one life is saved.... Are adults open game for snipers, and other crazed killers, but children are off limits? As I stated before, I have two children myself, but I couldn’t help but notice how visibly angry and upset people got when the 13 year old boy was shot in Maryland. While I feel sympathy for this child and his parents I can’t get past the fact that a child’s life seems to have more value to many people than an innocent adult. Someone help me understand this. Are they not both innocent victims who do not deserve such a fate? If the police do not have the manpower to watch all potential areas that the sniper may strike, then why not enlist the help of competent, trained citizens who could and would volunteer their time to help watch such areas. If memory serves most, if not all, of the cities and counties in Virginia allow for the appointment of "Special Police" or "Conservators of the Peace" who assist sworn law enforcement. A quick background check could verify the persons stability and any training they have received in firearms. Why do we continue to overlook this resource? Just some food for thought. Sincerely, Floyd C. Bayne
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