The Editor, Sir:

Please permit me these few lines to clarify an earlier article that was submitted on my behalf to your fine paper, 'National database for crime bad idea'.

First off, I did not disagree with Mr. Kerr-Jarrett that something needs to be done about the crime situation. What I disagreed with was his assertion that DNA material be collected from each newborn as part of his/her permanent social security records.

I also made the point that every time a person is arrested, his/her fingerprint should be taken, and that's how you could build a national database.

Crime is usually committed by repeat offenders. I as a fine upstanding citizen would consider it an affront to my being, if I were asked to be fingerprinted as part of a national database. Let the criminals be fingerprinted.

I am, etc.,

A. ATKINS

woodyghp@aol.com

Brooklyn, New York

Via Go-Jamaica