Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-26
CARRYING DEADLY WEAPONS.
Provisions Of the New Law Now In Force "a
the District.

The act 10 punish the carrying or selling OF
deadly or dangerous weapons within the Dis
trict has been approved by the President and is
nowa law. The new Law resulted from meetings
held by citizens who felt the need for some ac-
tion that would reduce the number Of homicides
and bloody ARRAYS in the District traceablo, in
part At least, to the inetticiency Of the old law
relating TO the carrying OF weapons. The
trainers Of the new law hope that if il is vigor-
ocsiy enforced by the police il will have a most
wholesome effect. II is believed that il its pro-
visions are read by ministers to their congre-
cations and proclaimed in other ways. SO that
all Glasses OF the community may be made ac-
quainted with them, the beneficial results hoped
Tor VIII be accomplished sooner. Below 10 the
text OF The law as approved by the President:
Be II enacted by the Senate and House Of
Representatives Of the United States Of America
IN Congress assembled, That il shall not be
lawful for any person or persons within tho Dis
trict of Columbia to have concealed about their
person any deadly or dangerous weapons, Such
rs daggers, air guns. pistols. bowie knives dirk
knives or dirks, blackjscks. razors, razor blades
sword canes, slungshot, brass or other metal
knuckles.
Sec. q That ii shall not be lawful for eny
person or persons within the District Of Column
bia 10 carry openly any such weapons as here
inbefore described with intent TO unlawfuly use
the same. and any person OF persons violating
either Of these sections shall be deemed guilty
of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof
shall, for the first offense, forfeit and pay a
fine or penalty OF not less than $50 nor
more than $500, Of which one-half shall
be paid to any one giving information leading
to such conviction or be imprisoned in the Jail
OF the District of Columbia not exceeding six
months, or both such fine and imprisonment in
the discretion of the court: Provided That the
officers, non-commissioned officers and privates
OF the United States army, navy or marine
corps, or of any regularly organized militia
company, police officers, officers guarding pris-
oners. officials Of the United States or the
District Of Columbia engaged IN the execution
OF the laws for the protection of persons
or property. when any of such persons are on
duty, shall not be liable for carrying necessary
arms for use in performance of their duty:
Provided, further, That nothing contained In
the first or second sections of this act shall be
| so construed as TO prevent any person from
keeping or carrying about his place of business.
dwelling house or premises any such dangerous
| or deadly weapons, or from carving the same
| from place of purchase to his dwelling house
or place Of business or from bis dwelling house
| or place OF business to any place where repair
ing is done, TO have the same repaired. and
back again: Provided, further, That nothing
contained In the first or second sections of this
act shall be SO construed rs to apply to any per-
| SON who shall have been granted a written per-
nit 10 carry suCn weapon or weapons by any
judge OF the Police Court of the District of Co
lumbia. and authority is hereby given to any
| such judge TO grant such permit for a period of
not InoyS than one month at any one time. upon
satisfactory proof TO him OF the necessity for
the granting thereof; aud further. upon the
| filing with such judge Of bond. with sureties
| to be approved by said judge, by the applicant
for such permit, conditioned to the United
States In such penal sum said Judge shall re-
| quire for the keeping of the peace, save in the
case of necessary self-deferse by such appli-
cant during the continuance of said permit
which bond shall be put in suit by the United
States for its benefit upon any breach of such
condition.
Sec. 8. That for the second violation Of the
provisions of either Of the preceding sections
the person or persons offending shall be pro-
ceeded against by indictment in the Supreme
Court of the District of Columbia. and upon
conviction thereof shall be imprisoned in the
penitentiary for not more than three years.
Sec. 4. That all such weapons rs hereinbefore
described which may be taken from any person
| offending against any of the provisions Of this
act shall, upon conviction of such person, be
disposed of as may be ordered by the judge
trying the case and the record shall show any
and all orders relating thereto as part of the
| judgment in the case.
Sec. 5. That any person or persons who shall
within the District of Columbia. SELL barter
hire. lend or give to any minor under the age
of twenty-one years any such weapon rs herein
before described shall be deemed guilty of a
misdemeanor, and shall, upon conviction
thereof. pay fine or penalty Of not less than
$40 nor more than Sr00. or be imprisoned in
the jail of the District of Columbia not more
than three months. No person shall engage in
or conduct the business of selling bartering
hiring. lending or giving any weapon or weapons
of the Kind hereinbefore named without having
previously obtained from the Commissioners %
the District of Columbia a special license
authorizing the conduct OF such business by such
person. and the said Commissioners are hereby
authorized to grant such Incense. without fee
therefor. upon the filing with them by the ap-
plicant therefor of bond with sureties to be
by them approved. conditioned in such penal
sum they shall fix to the United States for
the compliance by said applicant with all of
tine provisions Of this section. and upon any
breach or breaches of said condition said bond
shall be put in suit by said United States for it's
benefit, and said Commissioners NAV revoke
said license. Any person engaging in said
business without having previously obtained
said special license shall be guilty of a mis-
demeanor and upon conviction thereof shall
be sentenced to pay fine of not less
than 100 nor more than $500 of which one
half shsll be paid TO the informer, if any W hose
information shall lead to the conviction of the
person paving said fine. All persons whose
business it is to sell, barter, hire, lend give
any such weapon or weapons shall be. and they
hereby are, feQuirtu 70 keep n Nr1tten register
of the name and residence of every purchaser,
barterer, hirer, borrower donee OF any such
weapon or weapons, which register shall be sub
ject to the inspection Of the major and super
intendent Of metropolitan police of the District
of Columbia, and further 70 make a weekly re-
port under oath to the said major and super
intendent Of all such sales, barterfngs hirings.
lendings or gifts. And one-half of every fine
imposed under this section shall be paid to the
inforiner, IL any. whose information shall have
led 20 the conviction of the person paying said
fine. ANY police officer failing to arrest any
person guilty in his sight or presence and
knowledge of any violation Of any section Of
this act shall be fined not less than ESQ nor
more than $500.
Sec. q. That all acts or parts Of acts incon-
sistent with the provisions Of this act be, and
the same hereby are, repealed
WHAT PROSECUTING OFFICERS SAY.
Under the provisions of this act the prosecu-
lions will hereafter be conducted in the name
Of the United States and not in that Of the Dis
trict as heretofore. Mr.. Dumont, who repre-
sente the District in the Police Court, said this
morning that until he got orders to the contrary
he would continue to prosecute all persons
brought to court for carrying concealed weapons
if the prosecuting witnesses brought them to his
attention.
Its good Law" said District Attorney Cole
to STAR reporter this morning. 1.-The act be-
ing one Of Congress naturally throws the prose-
cutiop ON he Trufta1 Sfaxaa auH -