Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-06-10
Concealed Weapons.

Tho anti-pistol war continues to bo wagcd by
incorporated towns in every part Of the State.
No week passes but wo notice the adoption, by
some town or towns, Of al ordinance 10 prohibit,
under severe penalties, tho carrying OF con-
cealed weapons within tho incorporate limits.
Such an ordinance is needed and should bc
adopted and rigidly enforced in Walhalla, and
in fact in every town of tho State. Only few
weeks back some negroes in the public street,
near tho Presbyterian Church, had difficulty
and three pistol shots were fired, ono Of which
entered tho church and imbcddcd itself in the
wall within q few inches of tho head of q young
man who was in tho church attending prayer
meeting. Tho result was considerable cxcito-
mcnt and nearly the breaking up Of tho service.
Only few years ago shot was fred on tho
Nlr. James George and lodged in The wall just
above the bed in which the family were shopping.
1t has for years been common thing to hear
pistols fired on our streets at night and it il q
cause for astonishmcnt that no person has been
killed. Apart from these reckless acts, attend
ant with danger, The carrying of concealed
weapons has led TO homicidcs in this town and
is tho fruitful source of crime all over tho State
Should not our town authorities take action in
tho matter aud follow the wise course pursued
by many of thcir cocmporarics in Office in
against carrying concealed weapons accomplish
any good? We answer yes, and that not only
good but great good will How from their atlop-
ton and enforcement Their effect at once
would be to restrain and limit this barbarous
and abominablc practice and finally to cause its
complete abandonment. Another and moro
beneficial influence would flow from such ordi-
nances, in the influence they would have on tho
Legislature, compelling that body, through the
force of expressed public opinion, to pass law
covering the entire State. Is not such law
desirable? Would it not promote peace and
order as we'll rs tho security Of life? Would il
not reduce taxation by diminishing aggravated
crimes with their attendant expense? Where
lies tho good or merit in tho common practice Of
carrying concealed weapons? Echo answers
where. Where lie tho evil and injury to society
III Tho practice? Everywhere. Docs it not
breed brawls and difficulties and bloodshcd?
Docs it not clothc many familcs in the sad
habilmcnts of mourning? Docs it not create
-
zation, Oh humanity and Christianity? Should
1t be tolerated? No. Should il not be suppressed
by stringent legislation? Yes. Hero wo will
say without tho fear of contradiction Tint
ninety.nino out of q hundred who, with tho
pistol, havo taken human lfo in q moment of
sudden passion or in paroxysm of drunken
frenzy, have regretted tho net all their
future livcs, and would bo earnest advocates
and supporters Of q law prohibiting tho carry-
ing of such weapons? IIayo we no government?
Arc there no laws for the protection of lifo and
liberty? Aro not thc courts, with oil needed
machinery for tho protection of the citizons of
tho State, in existence? Arc wc in state of
pence or war that so many people aro found
wearing pistols? Suppose II foreigner chould
visit our country and find large proportion or
oil our citizens going about with sword bclted
around them, would he consider wo wcrc in q
sta'o OF peace or that such country was q do
srablo or safc plaoc to settle in7 In reality are
We hot in worse condition than tho public
wearing Of swords would place us2 Do we not
know that In tho court house, tho seat Of justice,
in the church, tho temple Of tho living God,
wherc peace and brothorly loyc are proclaimed,
IN our Legislative hollis, where laws are enacted,
IN public cohvcyanccs, at balls, at theatres, at
all places of public gathering and even in the
streets Of our towns, under tho broad light of
day, and under the peaoo of tho State, many arc
fodnd with tho dcath-dcaling pistol or somo
othor deadly weapon concealed about their per-
sons. Only few weeks ago, at Kingstrco, in
this State, prisoner, who had been convicted
of perjury, roso in tho court house, in Tho faco
Of tho judge and Of the law, and fired several
shots at the witnesses against him, wounding
ono severely. Such thing hos no parallel in
tho history of civilization. Tile practice Of