Letters to the Editor

Hails Fall of 'Big Brother' Photo Red Light System

Editor,

Mr. Benton's article in the March 3rd edition of the News-Press appears to be alarmingly one sided and missing serious journalistic vigor. What do the citizens of Northern Virginia feel about the actions taken by the Virginia legislature on their behalf? What is the data behind the decision to drop the big brother red light system? What do the straw man arguments about Richmond's fiscal unfairness have to do with this issue of safety and local government's apparent wish to profit at the expense of citizen safety?

Falls Church mayor Dan Gardner may wish to reconsider where he is pointing his "tyranny" finger. Council member David Snyder may also wish to reconsider which side of this issue is actually a "narrow interest of extremist ideologies," with his support of a system that profits local government at the safety and financial expense of the citizenry.

Studies by various universities and Virginia's own DOT have shown that red light cameras actually increase rear-end accidents, while simple solutions such as lengthening yellow light times significantly decrease accidents and red light violations. Mr. Gardner and Mr. Snyder may rightfully be angry by their inability to circumvent the Dillon rule. This anachronistic legal impediment to local government's ability to function freely closest to the people, in this case, has fortunately provided local citizens protection from the tyranny of local politicians. By their own words they implicate themselves as being more interested in profiting through Orwellian means which creates a safety problem and forcing upon the citizens their vision of government as parent.

Mr. Snyder continued his illogical and mean spirited attack on the topic of gun control by erroneously stating the legislature is impeding efforts by local government to protect citizens from the ability of gun-toting gangs and terrorists to enter government facilities. It is Mr. Snyder who would put law abiding citizens at risk by making them either potential victims or criminals if they enacted these laws restricting their right to protect themselves and their families in these facilities. If a criminal element decides to enter one of these facilities with ill intent, no additional gun control law is likely to hinder them. Only law abiding citizens are harmed by these unwise actions, yet Snyder considers our legislature's behavior "bizarre," when they are simply upholding the citizen's "right" to self defense.

Fred Childress, Falls Church

Moran Right to Insist on Iraq Strategy

Editor,

Congressman Moran's column in the March 4th News-Press was on target. He has been looking for ways to bring the majority party to agree that Congress must "exercise its oversight ability and demand a clear plan on how to transition U.S. involvement in Iraq." And so Mr. Moran offered an amendment to the Supplemental Appropriations bill requiring Secretary Rumsfeld to provide Congress with a strategy for success in Iraq.

Let us hope that this will at last cause the Department of Defense to report to Congress and the American people. This amendment by Mr. Moran is much more important than his getting $2 million for a traffic center for Falls Church. It has to do with the lives of Iraqis and Americans, the wellbeing of families, the future of the Middle East, and making space for peace. Yes, it is necessary that we make space for peace.

Carol LeClair, Falls Church

Letters may be sent to Letters to the Editor, c/o Falls Church News-Press, 929 West Broad Street #200, Falls Church, VA 22046 or may be faxed to 703-532-3396 or emailed here.