The Editor, Sir:

In response to the editorial 'Weighing the utility of finger-prints', I have to agree that this idea is taking us down a slippery slope.

We, as a people, cannot sacrifice our democracy for security because, as the saying goes, 'those who sacrifice democracy for security deserve neither'.

We have to be cognisant of the ramifications, and the critical one is the abstention of new prospective voters from registering because of the fear of the loss of privacy of their records.

Today, it is fingerprints. What will it be tomorrow?

I am, etc.,

JOHN D. WILSON, jr.

ampersand59@aol.com

Philadelphia, PA