Government leaders and citizens should take note that we in Ohio already have fought the Army Corps of Engineer's attempt to bring VX nerve gas for disposal from Indiana to Dayton, Ohio.

The corps contracted with Perma Fix to dispose the VX byproduct, and local citizens rose up in protest. Our congressman, U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, had a congressional investigation in Dayton, which found the Army and Perma Fix could not safely dispose of the agent in the manner described. In the end, 32 government agencies and local governments signed statements against the process.

Montgomery County Commissioners authorized a study to be conducted by a noted authority from Northwestern University that proved the process would not work and, indeed, it would be highly dangerous to transport the byproduct as it had a low flash point. Conclusions showed that, if an accident occurred, an area of 25 square miles would require immediate evacuation and that those within five miles would probably not be able to be evacuated before becoming a victim. It was decided that the original plan should be followed -- for the VX to be destroyed on site in Indiana.

The Army struck out in Ohio and is now trying again in your region. It was a small grassroots group that rose up to fight the Army, and it won.

People in South Jersey should rise up and fight also.

With VX traveling the highways or railways, terrorists would not need to bring in any weapons, they could instead steal our own deadly weapons -- VX nerve gas -- to be used against us.

JILL KUHNS New Lebanon, Ohio