The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-05-06
Carrying Pistols.

4 good deal has been written and
spoken of late against the habit of carry
ing concealed weapons, and we hope that
the crusade that is being gotten up against
it will not stop until it has effected its
purpose, if not in abolishing it, at least
in placing it under the ban of the moral
sentiment of the community. Pistols are
the concealed, deadly weapons which we
are striking at, and we may as well call
them by their right names. We don't
mean bowie knives or sling shots or sword
canes, or anything of the kind; it is the
pistol, and nothing but the pistol. That
is the corner stone, the foundation of the
whole difficulty, and we can drive that
instrument of death from the pockets of
our people, the object of the quiet, orderly
and law. abiding citizens will have been
accomplished.
Various plans and measures have been
suggested for the suppression of this relic
of o semi -barbarous age, but thus far none
of them have been successful. The en-
actment of laws, with pains and penalties
annexed, have been tried to some extent
without accomplishing the desired object.
There are some popular, respectable vices,
in dealing with which our actions belle
our words, and there are many at this
time preaching law and order, and con-
demning the vices and bloody affiays
which are prevailing to such fearful
extent, with pistols in their pockets,
ready to resent the first real or fancied
insult with bullet. What is the use of
trying to effect reform in this respect
by stringent laws and penal enactments,
when large number of those who make
our laws indulge in the luxury themselves
and vote to put down the practice with 8
pistol in their pocket2
The Marlborough Planter, becoming
disgusted with many plans and failures
to stop this nefarious practice, suggests q
new remedy, which we feel very much
tempted to endorse. It despairs of stop.
ping the evil, and proposes to make those
who indulge in it pay for the privilege.
Its proposition is to license the practice,
and make it a source of revenue. If it
can't be stopped, it might be regulated,
and We can't see any better way to do it
than by adopting the Planter'sproposition.
The pistol is the fruitful source of much
of the expenses on the sessions side of our
Courts, and it is nothing but right that
those who help to provide expensive work
should help to foot the bill. The follow
ing is the proposition of the Planter,
which we commend to the attention of
the public in general, and the members
of the next General Assembly in particu-
lar:
at has been suggested that good way
to meet the emergency, without passing q
straightout prohibitory law against Car.
rying concealed weapons, is for the next
Legislature to pass an act requiring all
persons wanting to carry pistols and bow
les to apply to the clerk of court for IL
censc for the year. And all who are
caught with q pistol not having license
to be in the shape of a silver-plated
badge to be worn on the front of the coat
and to be paid for by the person taking
out the license shall pay fine of not
less than one hundred or more than three
hundred dollars, half of which shall 60 to
the informer. We think the suggestion
is good one. We may then know, when
in crowd, who has pistol and who has
not, without fear of being shot to death
for some fancied wrong."- Columbia No-
11,nU