Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1875-07-01
DRAWING DEADLY WEAPONS.

City of drawing deadly weapons in
threatening manner. Since our las
issue we have witnessed on three
occasions the drawing of six-shoot
ers on our public streets by men in
4 furiated with passion and drink. II
1 every instance had the pistols beer
fired, either by intent or drunken
carelessness, it is almost certain thai
some one of the crowd of lockers or
would have been killed or wounded
There are men in this community
who use cooked six-shooter as al
argument in about every discussion
with which they have to do, and
backed by loaded firearms take oc
casion to bully and brow-beat who.
ever may happen to cross them. Is
it we'll for community just growing
into prosperity, numbers and wealth
| to submit to these outrages in silence
and without any attempt to bring
| these law breakers to punishment!
| We have law Oh our statutes which
! is fully competent to put an end to
this practice if it be rigidly enforced.
We quote it entire for the benefit OF
our officers, and that these reckless
DULLES, who are ever ready to pull
their 'sguns" in quarrel, may know
to what extent they lay themselves
liable every time they resort to the
practice:
"SEC. 40. Any person in this State
having, carrying, or procuring from
another person any dirk, dirk knife,
sword, sword-cane, pistol, gun, or
other deadly weapon, who shall, in
the presence OF two or more persons,
draw or exhibit any of said deadly
weapons, in rude, angry, or threat
ening manner, not in necessary self
defense, or who shall in any manner
unlawfully use the same in any
fight or quarrel, the person or per-
SONS so offending shall be deemed
guilty of a misdemeanor, and on
conviction thereof shall be fined in
any sum not exceeding five hundred
dollars, or shall be imprisoned in
the County Jail for a term not eX-
ceedng six months; prOUided, new
ertheless, that no Sheriff, Marshal,
Constable, or other peace officer,
shall be held to answer, under the
provisions of this Act, for drawing or
exhibiting any OF the weapons here
inbefore mentioned, while in the
lawful discharge of his or their
duties. 1t shall be the duty of all
military, civil, and peace officers in
this State to be vigilant in carrying
the provisions of this Act into full
force and effect.
II will be seen by the above that
to convict a man of the crime of
drawing a deadly weapon, it is not
necessary to show to the court before
whom he may be brought that the
person drawing the pistol attempted
CT threatened in words 70 shoot any
one. The very fact OF his exhibiting
them ain a rude, angry, or threaten
ing manner" in fight or discussion,
ain the presence of two or more per-
sons" is competent evidence upon
which to convict and sentence him
10 ga fine of $500" COR to the county
Jail for period of six months" 1t
is also made the duty of every
officer to promptly arrest offenders
Of this class, without waiting tor a
complaint to be made by a third
party. 1.-THE prompt and vigilant
enforcement" of this righteous law
is the only method by which the |
dangerous practice can be stopped, |
and no considerations OF fear or favor |
should prevent its being carried out
in every instance to the full letter. |
This is the purpose for which the
law was framed, and if the citizens |
of this community ever expect to |
see law and order prevail here,
measures must be taken to see that !
every officer does his full duty in
the matter. So long as offenders go
unwhipped of Justice, just so long
will the practice of "drawing deadly
weapons" prevail in the community.
Since writing the above, we are in
formed that an organization of citi-
zens has been formed to bring be-
fore the Courts every case that may
hereafter arise and prosecute the
guilty parties to the fullest extent of
the law. This is the right step in
the right direction.