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• On the article Handguns in Virginia: What Would You Do If This Happened to You?

  

  Vicky Stevens

  11:02 am on Sunday, March 24, 2013

  Rob, I think there is merit in what you say about not wanting customers to "jump in" on an armed robbery situation. And when I conjured the coffee shop alternative to Saturday's actual robbery across the highway from my local java haunt in the earlier post, I probably erred in not going far enough in the scenario. While I would feel safer with a gun in my bag (I have a CCW permit but seldom carry) and truly would feel safer knowing Carolyn was there, I tend to think that if a robbery is going smoothly, the loss of the merchant's treasure is not worth the risk of intervention in the crowded Saturday Starbucks by "just anybody." My daughter (verge of HS graduation) was the victim of an armed robbery near there and I am thankful she and her boyfriend did not quibble, laid down in the parking lot as directed, and simply put up with the huge hassle of replacing all their IDs and credit cards. There is security in knowing some customers are armed, primarily for the situation where something goes horribly wrong before police arrive, quite possible in the twisted logic of a perp high on crack who is startled or for whatever reason starts to make bad choices that cascade. I suspect Carolyn has the sense to wait for a clear shot. But I do respect your position. Like so many gun issues, I don't think it's a one-size-fits-all-situations thing.

• On the article Handguns in Virginia: What Would You Do If This Happened to You?

  Vicky Stevens

  9:35 am on Sunday, March 24, 2013

  Patch, you've found an issue people feel strongly about! For those reading this on account of subscribing to the Greater Alexandria edition feed, I hope you also read your alerts yesterday, including "The TD Bank located at 6615 Richmond Hwy. in Alexandria was robbed … at approximately 2:30 p.m. Saturday." Let's say the perp had decided to turn west at the Rt. 1 intersection instead of east to TD bank. I, for one, hope that if I am at the front of the line at the coffee shop that I have "T Ailshire" or "Carolyn" in line behind me than Susan Stillman or Erin Hall, who apparently want to secure mental health counseling for the paranoid three of us in line. Seems to me the guy issuing a death threat at the register is the one with antisocial problems. Yes, a theoretical situation, but the robbery across the street was pretty real.

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• On the article Addressing Gun Control in Virginia

  Vicky Stevens

  7:26 pm on Monday, January 21, 2013

  I agree with Mr. Lizana in part and think Puller wastes political capital when using media shorthand where she means "person-to-person sales," though I don't think all media are liberal-leaning. You'd hope politicians would strive to improve accuracy in communications on such a volatile issue. On the philosophical side opposing Mr. Zaccagnino's proposal, there is a potential for anarchy stemming from sudden disaster or civil disobedience (hurricane, backpack nuclear bombs in DC) that justifies a homeowner preserving protection from marauding gangs. Recall police non-response in 1968 (14th Street Corridor) or police resources favoring wealthier neighborhoods (Grenta's "wall of blue" in Katrina or the shameful police conduct on the Danzinger Bridge). On the practical side, it is so disappointing when politicians waste oxygen on cheap shots that aren't going to happen while ignoring an achievable goal -- a renewed commitment to investigate and prosecute ALL the tens of thousands of convicted felons and fugitives from justice who lie on ATF Form 4473 in attempting to secure guns.

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• On the article Your Turn: You Fix Traffic On Route 1

  

  Vicky Stevens

  1:26 pm on Sunday, June 10, 2012

  Thanks T.Ailshire for hitting the nail on the head. SFDC's logic is what has gotten us into this mess -- rezonings and SEs to allow more development, more building, and instead of waiting until we have the transportation infrastructure, we amend the Comprehensive Plan with "goals" for transportation improvements that are not funded. The building permit is issued today, the corresponding transportation improvement gets put into an unfunded 20-year plan. There are a few exceptions, but most proffers realized through prior APR language simply ameliorate traffic movement around the SFDC-backed project. You can't require a developer to pay for offsite improvements, but you can STOP giving away density in the Plan before you have the transportation projects being built. Enjoy the beauty of all new those new cars coming into the traffic mix from the Beacon Mall apartments, because you got what you wanted -- thank the "we've GOT to do something about Route One" crowd. And as you are sitting in a traffic backup there, ask yourself, what transportation improvement do you see from your windshield helping you get through that stretch that offset the exceptions giveaway for the 300 apartments at the Groveton highrise. Oh, that's right, we got "economic development" and I'm at least glad some carpenters and laborers and the guys in suits got a year's worth of income out of it while we suffer for the next couple decades.

• On the article Surprise! 'Kits' Mistaken for Kittens

  Vicky Stevens

  10:53 am on Saturday, May 5, 2012

  Best story of the week! I have a small fox who spends a lot of time in my yard. I really want him or her to stick around -- I found evidence of some excellent raccoon control services he's providing. The fox looks pretty scrawny, though I understand in addition to little critters they'll eat plants, berries, and acorns, and I've got a lot of that. Two questions: anybody know if can one buy Raboral bait packets commercially I can put out near his den with some cat chow to help ensure rabies inoculation? Also, for diet diversity, Is there some place I can buy some live chickens near to southeast Fairfax? (I'm sure I've got enough acres to comply with zoning.)

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