Philadelphia Daily News from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 23

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS PAGE 23 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1993 -nsisEr" ABORTION 7" The killing of the Pensacola doctor and News 'pro-abortion froth' shooting of David Gunn than one unstable person whose personal family life was ironically straightened up by involvement in higher causes. Much of the pro-life movement insists on equating the killing of a developing child to killing an adult human being, turning abortion policy into one big holocaust On the other hand, "choice" groups pretend to be just dealing with unwanted growths, which as if bv magic become babies ly forgets he said the extreme Los Angeles Riots might finally get whites' attention. Curiously absent from Aregood's opinion is the word "understandable," as in "riots were reprehensible, but understandable" and "sabotaging logging equipment is wrong, but understandable." It seems likely that had it been the harassed doctor doing the shooting, Aregood would have worked a little "understanding" into his analysis. Oh, and Richie, I loved that opening about ugly rhetoric being able to kill. When the current Rodney King trial ends with an acquittal and more rioting, I look forward to your condemnation of Maxine Waters, Benjamin Hooks, et al, as creeps and Nazis.

Evidence of Daily News hypocrisy continues to mount Calling you two-faced would be a gross understatement Do us a favor some day when there's no hate to exploit no names to call, no childish tantrums to vent tell us what your principles are (you'll find that word near the middle of the dictionary). TIM SHUTTERS Lansdowne HE DIDN'T SHOW THE PROPER RESPECT FOR HUMAN UFE The Daily News reports President Clinton is outraged by the shooting of an abortionist. Signe Wilkinson served up a dishonest cartoon, and your editorial was of the same stripe. David Gunn was shot by a disturbed individual who previously exhibited violence to his own wife. He had picketed "a few times" at pro-life ventures.

The Daily News made it obvious they consider the death of David Gunn an opportunity, and went to work with macabre glee to damage the pro-life movement. We do feel badly about this death and will pray for David Gunn. Despite this death culture, every single life is sacred. Selective mourning is not pro-life. If the Daily News opposes murder, they should get behind the pro-life movement ERIC REED Glenside Who's responsible? There is, of course, more involved in the Freedom to fear Politicians say that in comparison, this is the greatest country in the world, because of freedoms granted us by the Constitution.

In the 1990s, we are free to: Die at gunpoint for our earrings, jackets or sneakers. Have our children shot dead at the corner candy store. Be killed at gunpoint for our cars. Lock ourselves and our family in the house while the sound of gunfire terrorizes our dreams. The list goes on, far longer than the list of amendments to the Constitution.

The only thing easier than pulling the trigger is getting the gun. I cannot help but believe some good citizens would be alive today if this were not true. If something is not done, the good people of this country will not survive to enjoy its true freedoms. Greatest country? In the realm of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. But it does not make him great ROBERT J.

FASSEL Philadelphia Death the lesser penalty The execution of James Allen Red Dog gives some practical reasons why the death penalty is a losing proposition. First, Red Dog refused to appeal his case, he didn't want to spend his life in jaiL If you're looking for maximum punishment, you haven't meted it out in this case. Second, according to his family's statement he died "proud that he's giving in return for what he took a life." This could not be more wrong. Red Dog can Boy, you sure summed us up. I eagerly await commentary proclaiming all mothers of African descent to be murderers, all immigrants to be bombers and all TV news organizations to be liars.

Equally mindless was the editorial, presumably penned by Richard Aregood, he of the short memory. Aregood says pro-lifers will lose whatever small public sympathy they had, much like extremist Vietnam protesters. In stating this, Aregood convenient In other words, would a cabinet consisting of Wolfgang Mozart Mick Jagger, Richard Simmons, Hulk Hogan, Dan Quayle, Howard Stern, Winston Churchill, Josef Goebbels, G. Gordon Liddy and Abbie Hoffman be considered "diverse?" Please clarify. TIM SHUTTERS Lansdowne Guns in the barrio The letters by Dan Dolt and Jerry Boris, "Tragedy in the BarrioWhose fault the cop or the armed teenager?" (March 3) agreed on one aspect of the killing of Santa Colon the guns.

Therein lies part of the answer to the "Whose As long as metal detectors in schools and equipping law enforcement with Glocks are less threatening to political ambitions, such tragedies will continue, and increase the strain on institutions meant to better our, lives. As long as we continue to elect National Rifle Association puppets, as evidenced by the Republican legislature of New Jersey, we are all in the crosshairs. Our entire society, from the woodlands invaded by armed "conservationists" to 12-year-old inner-city kids, is infected with the cancer of the 2nd Amendment misinterpreters and their stooges in state and federal legislatures. When a federal government agency, ATF, is overpowered and outgunned by some "religious" cult the six-shooter is inadequate WRITE US To be considered lor publication, a letter must telephone number. It should be concise, legible it or fax it to (215) 854-5691.

All letters are during auto accidents, stabbings and other assaults where the developing child is eliminated without its mother's concurrence. Aside from the struck-down Louisiana law, nothing on the legal horizon violates the contention that a developing baby is less than a fully developed human being, so spokespersons on all sides are pushing people to choose between two extreme viewpoints that the vast majority don't want to accept and have never agreed with. Blame must be accepted by never repay the family of the man he killed. He can't give Hugh Pennington back to his family and he can't remove from their lives the horror of knowing how he died. Third, and most chilling, is that Red Dog's determination of his own death, his open smiling face, and most especially the quotation from the statement saying he is going to his death "with pride and dignity" almost made him look like a hero.

To a disturbed person with a grudge against someone, this could look like a pretty good deal. He or she might decide to follow his example; that is, you take what you want another person's life and you pay for it with the punishment of your choice, in this case Red Dog's proud and dignified death. So everything's OK. No matter how you look at it, the death penalty is a losing proposition for society. PHYLLIS BEGGS Philadelphia Navy workers' options The 6,700 workers at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and the 2,500 workers at the Warminister Navy facility are running out of options.

Maybe these will 'help: Ask the top clergy to intervene with President Clinton on their behalf. Top leaders of the AFLCIO should come to their aid (example push for a job insurance package). Move to Texas and learn how build prehab homes. Provide job training for wives (e.g. key-punch operator).

JOHN M. HORNER Philadelphia both sides in order not to encourage this kind of incident RICHARD KANEGIS Philadelphia I bought my Daily News March 12, fully expecting a tide of pro-abortion froth in response to the murder of Dr. David Gunn in Pensacola. You did not disappoint me. Jill Porter called pro-life people hypocrites; Signe Wilkinson depicted a pro-lifer, with a smoking gun, rejoicing over a prone body.

The 'diversity' delay The Marines are still in Somalia and airdrops have started in Bosnia, but Bill Clinton still hasn't named secretaries of the Navy and Air Force. The administration that was supposed to be ready on Day 1 has gaping holes in sub-cabinet appointments six weeks later. But rather than ask who's in charge, the Daily News opines "Diversity is well worth the delay" (editorial, March 4). "Diversity" is the liberal mantra against incompetence. When Clinton promised a cabinet that "looks like America," we discovered that most of us are lawyers and millionaires.

Janet Reno might be a first-rate attorney general, but her ability is clearly secondary to her gender. Clinton's diversity had no place for the identifiable ethnic Catholic, still a big bloc of the Democratic coalition. No Asian-Americans either, maybe because most quotas are designed to work against them, such as college admittance to Berkeley. Clinton has come up with Carter retreads like Warren Christopher, academic dreamers like Donna Shalala and a few old pols like Lloyd Bentsen. The faces might be different, but their mindset is the same Big Brother knows best or possibly with Hillary it's Big Sister! BILL ORTH Philadelphia.

I have a question regarding your opinion that a "diverse" cabinet has been worth waiting for Is your notion of diversity strictly related to skin color andor gender, or is it a reference to things that really matter? for law enforcement So weapons increase in number and size. Death feeds upon itself. The gun nuts' fanatical worship of their symbol of manhood is destroying all other freedoms. Destroying life itself. An average of 12,000 Americans die annually from guns.

LOU PELUSO Philadelphia Re "Tragedy in the If Jerry Boris' wife, mother or sister were blown away like that, I'd like to see whether he felt it is only the 19-year-old kid's fault, and not sue the city. As it is not against the law to own a (non-stolen) rifle, shotgun or pistol for home or business protection, hunting and target shooting (permit needed to carry pistol on street unless unloaded and wrapped up) why should someone call 911 every time you know they have a gun? About half the households have guns in this city, 911 would be flooded. The guide for police conduct is very simple: Be careful how you use your guns against the public or it is coming out of your pocket in non-raises due to lawsuits. J.R. MONROE Philadelphia Gays in St.

Pat parade Gays should have been permitted to march in the St. Patrick's Day Parade. RANDOLPH HUSAVA Philadelphia be signed and include the writer's address and and written lor this newspaper only. You can mail subject to editing..