The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-28
The Habit Of
Carrying Guns

o often one hears the remark. IF
only had a gun. you bet your sweet
life he wouldn't have called me those
names" The expression 10 to be heard
not alone In saloons. but In other places
as we'll Generally. 1t means little;
sometimes IL has q vengeful sound The
probabilities are h . X the speaker
had q pistol IL would have rested COM
fortably in his pocket and the names
would have been called just the same.
On the other hand. s~upposing that dur
ing q passing fash Of r~esentful passion
he had whipped out his gun and shot
his reviler dead. That means not only
n death OF a human being. but n
long term In jail for the man h had
quittal. perhaps. but more likely man
slaughter and the p~enitentiary; TO say
nothing OF the anxiety of friends. per-
haps OF a father and a mother. All
these and more. Just because he had
his gun"
The habit Of carrying revolvers pre-
walls In Anaconda to a dangerous ex-
tent Young men carry deadly weap-
ons for no other apparent reason than
to be able to boast about IL. Men who
follow the most peaceful pursuits in
life. men who work In stores. In ofices
and the like. carry guns. For what
purpose? For protection to them
selves? That is not q reasonable pre-
sumption There are few II any Of
these men who are ever exposed to
the slightest danger where a revolver
would be necessary. How many of
them, should they be held up by foot
pads In q dark street, wou have the
presence Of mind to make use of the
gun they have carried so long for just
such an occasion? 1t is safe to say
that not n in a thousand would have
to his gum. He would just
throw up his hands. the robber would
vfaA hto AaLA al AA- ~ urA.xI1 No
home and say nothing about II. There
are few u for packing a gun" 1t
IL true there are those whose calling
requires them to be out q great deal at
night-such as call boys for railroads.
In such cases the carrying of a pistol
dogs; but as a protection against foot
pads a gun in the hands OF an ordinary
citizen Is useless.
The gun-carrying habit found an IL
lustration a few days ago in a Main
street saloon. A young man whose
business is that of the most peaceable
character, a clerk in a store. was talk
ing to a friend. He was somewhat in
toxicated. The two men were talking
about the Gangner hold-up. when the
clerk suddenly reached In the front
pocket of his trousers and pulled out a
gun that mus have been a foot long.
at the same time remarking that he
would like to see anybody hold him up.
What in the world do you pack hat
thing for?" asked his friend.
We'll. / go nome late at night m
and I need IT,"
How long have you carried that?"
For about ~ years"
Have you ever been called upon to
use it?"
mo. but I might be at any time"
do you think 1t would help you any
IL a footpad got the drop on you?"
~ 1
to be pretty smooth to hold me up
IL 1 had this with me-"
He said he carried II In his front
pocket II would be handler to
get at"
Here was a man who had carried
six or seven pounds of DIV for ~
without ever having had occasion
use IL. and he might carry ~ for so
more without ever using IL, un-
less he gets into a fight. perhaps with
his best friend. and kills him.
There IL a law against carrying con-
weapons. but its enforcement Is
a good deal like the enforcement of a
great many other laws. Very few ar
rests are made on this charge. 1t il an
matter to find out whether q man
has a gun In his pocket. A slight con-
tact on the street corner. q deft move
ment of the hand. and the officer
whether the suspected person
has a gun. Perhaps when the gun
habit results In the murder of
couple of quiet citizens the authorities
will look into this matter of individual
armament.