To: letters@nytimes.com
Re: Proposal for a voluntary DNA databank
Date: Monday, 10 January 05

"To Try to Net Killer, Police Ask a Small Town's Men for DNA"

Dear Sir/Madam,

An important failing of the "global village" is the familiarity that villagers used to have with one another. Ever since cities and mass society emerged they have provided ideal cover (conditions of anonymity) for criminals - and nowadays also terrorists, asocial elements and illegal immigrants - to evade detection.

Modern science and technology now offer a solution in the form of convenient and virtually infallible means of ascertaining identity, i.e.  biometrics, including DNA profiles, iris scans, finger print scans.

The arguments for a comprehensive national DNA databank are, I believe, overwhelming. Of course, there is some risk of misuse, as there is with everything, but it can be dealt with, and compared with the benefits, pale into insignificance.

The biggest obstacle to establishing a national DNA database is the stigma still attached to anyone having their DNA profile stored in the current database. Understandably, because it is primarily a database of criminal profiles.

The best way to counter this is for the government to establish a separate "voluntary" DNA databank and to encourage ordinary people (especially men, of course) to offer their DNA for profiling and storage.

Instead of running scared and being ashamed of the association with actual and suspected criminals in the current DNA databank, people could then be proud to have it known that they are in the "voluntary" DNA databank, that they have nothing to hide from the law, and are actively helping the police do their job.