| Virginia
Reps. Host Public Meeting |
By Leah M. Kosin
Special to the Observer |
| Gun safety, mental healthcare and childcare were a few of
the topics that residents discussed with Del. Ken Plum (D-36th)
and State Sen. Janet Howell (D-32nd) at a public meeting at
the Reston Community Center Hunters Woods Jan. 3. |
| Centreville resident Luann McNabb said that in light of
the April 16, 2007, tragedy at Virginia Tech, she would like
to see changes made to Virginia's gun laws. McNabb said she
believes that Virginia's gun laws played a significant role
in the tragedy and she would like to see those laws strengthened
to prevent a similar tragedy from occurring again. |
| "I'm very close to the Samaha family, and Reema was the
same age as my son Patrick," McNabb said, referencing Reema
Samaha, a Virginia Tech freshman who was killed in the shootings.
"We have known them for 20 years, so when she died it had
a huge impact on me and my community. And the one thing that
her dad has wanted to do is change the gun laws." |
| McNabb said Reema Samaha's family and friends formed the
Angel Fund to educate citizens about gun laws, to promote
legislation to keep guns off college campuses and to require
background checks for gun-buyers. "I think the biggest thing
for us is we really want the state legislators to understand
how this event impacted not just the families, but the community,"
McNabb said. "I don't think the legislators really understand." |
| On a similar note, the legislators were requested to focus
on ways in which Virginia could better serve its mentally
ill residents. One resident said that although some bills
have focused on increasing funding for the mental health system,
even more money should be dedicated to that. |
| Both Plum and Howell agreed that upgrading Virginia's mental
health system would top this year's agenda. "There is a lot
of focus on the mental health issue and we've got to deal
with that," Plum said. "No question about it." |
| Reston resident Mary Supley Foxworth also asked the representatives
to focus on childcare subsidies, which she said are at risk
in the Commonwealth of Virginia. She said childcare is a huge
expense for Virginia families as it can cost up to $12,000
per year for just one child. According to Reston Interfaith's
Web site, about 36,000 children currently receive these childcare
subsidies with another 13,000 on waiting lists. |
| Other issues discussed included banning the use of cell
phones while driving, increasing penalties for teenage drivers
who break passenger limits and curfews, improving transportation
and pedestrian safety, and incorporating Reston as a town.
|
| The legislators returned to Richmond for this year's session
of the General Assembly, and they hosted last week's meeting
to learn about issues of importance to the community. "We
have a sense from reading the newspapers and getting e-mails
and comments on what people are thinking about, but this gives
a venue for people who don't otherwise have an opportunity
to talk with us," Plum said. "It's essential it seems to me
to provide the opportunity to hear what other people have
to say." |
