The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-07
ALL SHOULD CARRY ARMS.
Especially Women. Says Judge Camp
bell, of Mississippt.

Especially Women. Says Judge Camp.
bell, of Mfssissfppt.
New Orleans Times-Democrat.
The following letter on the subject OF
carrying concealed weapons has been re-
ceived:
jackson. Miss. Nov. %. 1885,
ITO the Editor Of the Times-Democrat:
Reading your editorial on carrying con-
after an experience of nearly half a GEN.
fury. In active connection with the enforce
ment OF laws. my judgment Is that all laws
against carrying weapons wrong ana
forced, and for that reason should not exist.
They operate unequally and harmfully by
being restraint on those IN whose hands
the weapons would be harmless and often
useful, and imposing no restraint on those
in whose hands they are dangerous ana
often destructive.
my view is that all should be free 10
carry arms as they please. and that every
girl. especially, should be taught TO use
them expertly We would tnen near less OF
violent assaults and burglaries. and such
crimes as so often occur. and there would
not be crime more by reason OF the un-
restrained right to carry arms
lit would prevent rather than promote
crime. The man disposed 10 commit crime
is never restrained by the law against car.
rying concealed weapons. while the 5000
citizen often is, and is thus placed at a dis
advantage, being at the mercy OF the VII
lain who assails him, and who Is efDbold-
ened to do II by the confidence that his
''o'''-' - u. A. p. CAMPBELL"
1t will be observed that Judge Campbell.
who is one of the ablest and most distin-
guished jurists in the South. not only adds
the weight of his great authority TO the
view of this question enunciated recently by
the Times-Democrat. but takes wioer anu
broader view of the question still
And, when We think the matter over We
believe that Judge Campbell Is right; and
that; while nothing Is gained ny 'ae eai ioe
the carrying of weapons. much would Do
gained by making the carrying or them as
wide and general as possible. Inc noo ,is.,
and criminally disposed person who nabitu-
aily goes armed is almost certainly COW
ard to boot. and the knowledge that MS
would-be victim Is likely to be as wen
account of himself with his weapon, would
make his dastardly hoodlumism hesita,e
in gratutitously assuming the omens ~. III
up against and picks a quarrel with are ap.
TO be as expert at the game or hanunnS
himself and his would-be victim have been
eyened up and, on the whole, that TX VIII
be safer for him not to take the chances
implied in drawing a weapon
The general carrying Of weapons wouid
almost to a certainty produce this desirable
result among the hoodlum class VINO naD
aully carry them: and the lawless use OF the
weanons that would be otherwise fostered
by a general carrying of them would prob
ably not amount TO much-would not coun-
eract one 1.-THE of the good produced among
the rpurderous hoodlum class
AS to the other half of Judge Campbelrs
proposition--that girls should be trained IN
the use of the revolver with view 10 SET
protection-the chances are that IL will be
received with a divided sentiment, some or
the population holding II to be right ana
proper and almost necessary, under the CIT
cumstances of everyday assaults upon fe-
males, that women be ready and able 70
teach the assailant salutary lesson, and
the other moety OF the people holding tnat
the practice of using and carrying pistols
is unladylke and dangerous and demorai-
izng to women who carry weapons:
folk were accustomed In their youth TO
handle weapons of self-defense and were 10
become fairly expert in their use. the dan
ger and demoralfzing tendency would dis
anpear and II might become the vogue; In
which case IL is almost superfiuous TO re-
mark that the persons of women would be
safer and more invfolate than they are now.
Judge CampbeIrs proposition r. one that
is certain to induce large amount OF re-
Fiction.