Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-02-04


Editor " ths .Star Excuse the liberty we
take in proloBgin this discussion of concealed
weapons, but We feel, notwith standing, COM
RELIED 10 say something on the subject. The
use Of firearms as an omni- present protector
tcr man, has been the topic of various contro-
vercies, pro and con; that Is to say for general
s sse TO be carried by man in his his, daily VOCATION
understand "Semi Occasional to mean.
" Small Arsenal Carrier seems TO rs more
reasonable. for he designates, as It were, the
time and place to carry I" Small Arsenal"
"Semi- Occasional advances the objection that
men are too apt to use them in revenge Of some
fancied wrong, or In squirt Of passion; this
rare case, and liable to exception. He further
advances that We are the only civilized class
VINO deal in the article. Here he u entirely
by the majority OF foreigners. We would refe
"Semi- Occasional to Disraelis late work-we
mean Z" LOthair." II accidents happen through
dsprivsd 81 It's Il thas Sshers snonld be
wishes to punish all who carry concealed
weapons, without regard to their intentions,
with unheard of penalties. We think that a
little forethought and judiciOss management
might have been better advocated by % Semi
Occasional" and to more advantage than his
late article We, like :" Small Arsenal Carrier >
and ease TO our revOlvers.
Hoping that we have purged ourselves Of the
ignominous epithet of Grrdnt towards, we are
truly. Two SMALL ARSENAL CARRIERS.
Editor Star: The controversy between '.Semi-
Occasional" and ''Small Arsenal has attracted
my attention and tempted me to have a word to
say on the subject. AS understand the consti-
tuition, We as American citizens are entitled tn
bear arms. either openly or concealed. We
often pity the European peasant who is forced
to secrete his rusty fowling piece or pistol which
municipal pass laws quite = sss af G
uary, the Questonably good results of which
our criminal courts viii show: The opinion OF
will prevent the dangerous classes carrying
"deadly weapons is believed by all; and while
using this hackneyed term, would it not be well
to know what Is deadly weapon? The law
confscates, and fines the owners of, all pistols
slung-shots, certain kinds of knives, and, of
late, razors found on the persons of arrested
parties. The latter is a favorite with the col
ored trough" and is not properly an of
1ensive weapon, being first carried for
that purpose to evade the law. Now,
the same law that made the carrying OF
razor misdemeanOr, might likewise apply il
to thick walking stick, or stout jack knife, or
other supposed peaceable article. Where is the
line to be drawn? person unacquainted with
the sO-called "manly art" one in feeble
health, is unable to defend himself against even
the fists OF any bully he may have a difficulty
with, such a person should consider the fist a
deadly weapon, and defend himself in the best
manner possible. Although we read Of many
deaths by knife and pistol, l believe there are
more real murders committed by other means.
We read daily of persons being beaten and
kicked, ofttimes to death, but we pass them
by, as they are generally less interesting In par
ticulsrs, and SAVIOR less of the dramatic than the
assassinations Of Fisk or O'Neil.
SELF DEFENCE.
THE OTHER SIDE.
WAsHINGToN, ID. c., Feb. 3, 1873.
Editor Stdr:-The carrying Of concealed deadly
weapons, noticed in your columns on Saturday
last, and the subject of discussion for some time
past in the correspondence of THE STAR, is one
that deserves serious attention. 1t is an evil
that requires a remedy The BILL alluded to by
you, that is awaiting action i'm the New York
assembly, is very good as far as it goes, but, in
my humble Judgment il is insufficient. 1t lacks
at least one clause essential for its success. 1t
ought to empower officers to search any person
whom they might suspect of unlawfully carry
ing deadly weapons. A few lively raids on revolt
yer carrying rufians would soon diminish their
number, and reduce the long roll of murders that
at present shock and disgrace the community
Ih, next thing on the programme (strange as il
may appear to some) is the abolition of the re-
yolyer as a necessary accompaniment to our
police in ordinary city duty. The police in
other countries get along very well wifi nothing
more deadly than a baton, and in countries
where the lawleSs classes are quite as numerous
and demonstratIve as here. The armed police
man is an indirect recognition of the dsreputa-
bic practice. Policemen are but mOrtals not
prominent among their fellow men in the ex-
ercise of the qualities Of GOODNESS and self-re-
straint and how many a poor fellow for trivial
offence has been hurled into eternity by some
hot-headed officer, having a revolver at hand
with which to deal destruction. This class are
generally exhonerated from blame on the plea
of duty. BABYLoNIAN.