The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-01-26
PUT AWAY THE PISTOL.
A GROWING PUBLIC SENTIMENT.
Tho Carrying of Concealed Deadly Wea-
pons should. for tho Protection of
Society, be Made Felony
Logic From Cisco.

uu"uly hSdpOhS uu INC person, i desire
to make a few suggestions through YOUR
valuable paper.
We must deal with this subject, as we
find it. Tho people in the western por-
ton Of the state, until within the last
few years, were compelled to carry dead
~ weapons for their protection. This
habit was continued so long, that it al
most became second nature. The prac-
ice is no longer necessary and must be
suppressed, If we would have personal
security and prevent the destruction of
human life. TO accomplish this much
desired end, is the wish of all good
citizens. | notice, that for
the first oflense, you advocate conflne.
lnent III the penitentiary. The Calves
ton News advocates the punishment of
those who carry deadly weapons, CON
ceaed, with criminal intent, throwing
the burden of proof on the accused 10
show that he did not carry il with such
intent. While both of these policies
may be far superior to anything sug.
gested herein, neither of them seems
practical to me. The severity of
the penalty alone, has never pre-
vented the commission of crime.
This rule would apply especially in the
ton OF our people at this time, would il
not DO impossible to get jurios to send a
party to the penitentiary for the first
offence, and would not the law, if en-
acted, be imperative for the want of
enforcement? Observation teaches us
that it is the certainty of the punish
nent under the law, and not the severity
, OF the penalty that prevents crime and
establishes good law-abiding senti-
ment. The policy advocated by the News
feel, would not give the desired relief.
In The first place, it would be an nj
tempt to remove from The accused that
presumption OF innocence which sur
rounds every citizen.
Perhaps a majority of those vino carry
concealed weapons have no especial in
tention Of taking human lite and have
done nothing prior to the difficulty
which would indicate that they
had any criminal intent, but
have at all times acted in such a
manner as to impress all observers that
they arc inottensive, law-abiding cit
liens, and on the trial could make am
| pie proof Of the fact. On examination
OF tho conflicts in which deadly weapons
were used it will be seen that major
ity of them were committed in the first
difficulty between the parties, and were
not the result of any former intent to
injure any person with tho weapons,
or thaJ the weapon was carried CON
cealed hut were the result OF having
The weapon so convenient at the very
| Tune the parties became enrared.
| For one, do not believe that q person
should be permitted to wear deadly
weapons on his person, either concealed
or openly. Most of us remember the
many bloody encounters IN Texas
when there was no law prohibiting the
carrying of deadly weapons on tho per-
son, and when each man, If he de.
sired, carried in plain view. a huge six
shooter. While the concealmenJ NAV
| DO an objection, 1t is not the only obiec-
| ton, and wo feel that q law as suggested
by the News. would fall far short OF
| giving the desired reiief
! The Two policies have not boon criti-
cised in tho spirit of fault-iinding, but
| to show what Is believed to be some of
| their defects. While the policy herein
| suggested may DO more detective than
| either Of tho ones criticised, | take the
liberty OF making these suggestions, to
/ be considered by you and all parties in
terested, as by full and free discus
sion, the best policy may be adopted.
Most persons admit that the present
law is very defective. The portion re.
lating 10 trayolcrs should DO 40
amended that IL would DO no de-
Tense, unless the accused was an actual
| traveller going out of tho state or out OF
the county in which he resided. To the
penalty as now fixed by law should be
added imprisonment. Many mon 40
armed in violation of law, taking tho
risk of being arrested, and IL caught
willingly pay fine for the privilege of
carrying their weapons. A great num-
Der of these men we all consider our
best citizens, who would not
In any other manner, knowing
~ violate the law. The habit
OF carrying weapons has grown on
them, and they do not consider IL dis
| graceful To 40 armed. IA fine alone has
not and will not break up this vicious
habit. A policy must be adopted that
will cause all violstors to dread the
punishment, and at tho same time not
DO too severe for the juries TO enforce
the law. All must admit that IL Is diff
cut to determine whore this happy me-
alum may be found. | would suggest,
that TO the penalty now fixed by law,
for the first oilenso we add i'm.
prisonment In the county iail for
any period, not less than tive nor
more than thirty days. For the sec.
ond oilonse add to the fine now fixed by
law, imprisonment In tho county iaii.
Tor any period, not less than twenty
days nor more than six months. For
the third oifense mako IL imprisonment
IN the penitentiary, Tor any period, not
less than one, nor more than three years
In addition to these penalties, would
suggest that n very heavy oc-
cupation tax be placed on every
person who sells, or offers for sale, any
OF tho weapons, the carrying of which
IS prohibited by law. II might be well
toRlve all parties reasonable time to
dispose of the stocks which they now
have on hand, before this portion of tho
law be enforced. II that course was
adopted no person could claim that the
law was oppressive.
IN conclusion, permit me to Join you
N the hope that our legislature will en-
act some wise law which will speedilv
and effectually suppress the
great evil. But tho lecis-
lature may do its whole duty I'm This
matter, II public sentiment does not sus.
tain and heartily endorse the law Il will
remain dead letter. Our boys and
young men, yes and old men, too, must
be. properly educated and turned against
this evil, II we would suppress 1t. Why
90 not our preachers, public lecturers,
school teachers, mothers and fathers,
JOIN tho press In its noble
effort TO properly educate our
people and turn them against
this barbarous habitY If they would do
their whole duty, It would not be long
before II would be considered sowardly
and disgraceiul for any person to carry
deadly weapons; the luries would en-.
force any laws enacted, and the murder
and bloodshed among our people, which
Is so injurious to tho fair name of our
glorious state, would seldom occur in its
uoruers' Cisco.
Horsford's Acid Phosphate.
. - - 80.