Great Falls weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1894-1???, 1895-05-03
CAUSE AND EFFECT.

NO day passes but what the telegraph
brings reports from all over the country
"t shooting ~atfrHys for which there is no
legitimate cause. The opinion of many
persons who 10 not stop to think is that
theie Is nothing created or invented but
there Is IA use for it, and thus holding
they argue that if a gun had not been
mace they would not carry and use one.
In TINS they arc wide of the mark. They
40 NOT realize that it is the abuse not the
use o! Il weapon that always produces
are results. This is especially true in
the west. In our cities, under the pro.
lection Of our laws, there is no more rea-
son why a man should carrys:a deadly
weapon than there Is why he should
carry one in the quietast Of New En-
glah" villages. The day for gun plays
mas passed. Yet men think it is the
right thing to 90 armed until, by some
unfortunate accident, they are brought
race to face with the results of their
IoliY and arc compelled to stand
suppliants for mercy at the bar
OF justice. There is no good
reason why these Violators of law should
receive any consideration at the hands
OF its ministers. The excuses thew offer
are f1lmsy. Behind their known guilt
stands the positive fact that but for their
infringement OF a statute, intended to
protect them as we'll as their victims.
they could not be charged with crime.
They choose to take the chances and
there is no reason why they should not
suffer the consequences. Two especial
cases in point have just occurred in
Montana, one in Great Falls and the
other in Helena. In both cases the vic.
tim lowered at the point of death, but
fortunately survived, and in both cases
the criminal pleaded guilty, but offered
in ~extenuation the statement that the
animus of guilt Was lacking, that they
did not know what they were doing, and
that they had no reason to commit the
deed. This can readily be admitted.
but why should it absolve them from
the penalty. In both cases referred
to the victims were innocent of wrong
doing, and have not only endured.
physical sufferings, but have only
escaped with their lives by extraordinary
good physiques, good care and good
In the one case in Helena. a
sentence of seven years was imposed and
in the Great Falls case, that of Hall who
Deputy Sheriff Mcleod, the penalty
was twelve years, this in spite of pro-
testations of the accused that they did
Intend to do any harm, did not know
what they we're doing and were therefore
innocent. In each of the cases
he court took the practical and proper
view of it. The judges argued from
cause 10 effect. They knew that if the
men had not been carrying weapons in
Of the law the crimes could not
nave been comnitted. 1t is not tie
'ault of either of the accused that they
ire not murderers. They had the weap.
'ns, and used them. If they had not
lAd them there would have been
10 shooting. NJ trial, 70 conviction and
punishment. The courts in the two in
tances named are to be commended.
4ct the punishment for carrying con-
called weapons be melted out TO its
ullest extent, and there will be fewer
hooting scrapes, But few men in this
ountry except peace officers are justified
carrying guns and if the penalty i'm
osed by the courts has the effect that
should have, the cases in point will
OF fave been in vain.