The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1898-01-14
HOMlC'IDES.

IN ~ y
f[ /Ilsss q ShouIu
IT sSSers, and ths Sale ~ S&uu> !.
Of Pistsss 10 RTohlbitss ssa.ss q
Mach has been said and write,
al 2ut the pernicious habit of carry.
q an concealed weapons fesPsss.esyS..
sa3 pi r. Murders are greatly on the
sind in tha.-u 3itad- States. %.
wssxpnd .kn- the south and west. and
- Nh Caroline stands in the 1Euns
hk OF States distinguished for blood
hed in time of peace.
4. Inc burning questions are, What
f Is rs the cause and what is the remedy :?
The one is more easily answered than
the other. The practice of carving
the concealed pistol, and the read:-
ness OF Juries to acquit, are the chief
causes Of so many homicides. To
this may be added the habit of drink.
but our people are no more intemper-
ate than in the past. and to that
habit l am not disposed unduly to
attribute the alarming increase of
homicides. The chief causes are
i really to be found in the facility fur
nished by the nimble pistol, and the
immunity from punishment. This
last is after oil the chief inducements
because if our people knew that
punishment, sure and swift, would
overtake the murderer, the crime
would be greatly checked. The use
OF the pistol, razor and dagger would
De less frequent if men respected and
feared the law. as they certainly |.
would do if it was rigidly enforced.
Then why is the law not enforced
Where rests the blame? Why are
homicides so frequent: Some saw
that our people are wanting in edu-
cation and religious instruction the /:
fact is, however, that We have more J
school houses and houses of worship. 7
more academies and colleges for
whites and blacks, than ever before: =, y
the number Of newspapers and peri y y
ndlcals, secular and religious, in Cir =,
cuiation among all classes, is far "
greater than in the ro.l- Il -.~U .n'"h II
we can correctly attribute the preva- IL
lence of homicides to want OF in lr
tellectual, moral and religious train ii
ing of the people. To some extent tt
it may be SO, but no more than in o.
DAYS when homicides were rare. c.
If to suppress this crime, we are Il
to wait for and depend upon the slow a
process of moral suasion arising from G
the elevation of the masses through
religious and intellectual training Ii
and culture, society will long remain y
at the mercy Of the assassin. Others p
say the cause lies in the habit of e
drink and of carrying concealed 1
weapons. Our people are as temper t
ate as ever in the past. but do carry !
concealed about the person deadly !
weapons, especially the pistol, more i
generally now by so to l, than be- c
fore the war. The consequence is {
that person thus armed is more apt
to become insulting and aggressive.
and more apt to resent in others
harsh epithet by deadly shot. In ,
other words he is more overbearing /;
= ,Nm,self, and moro inclined to resent
Tt6e like conduct in others by shoot
y ing them. Any legislation, there
Sfore, that will effectually prevent the
Ecarrying of pistols will decrease the
( number of homicides. We have a
! law against carrying concealed dead
ly weapons. but it is not enforced,
and will not be, so long as men are
allowed to carry such weapons at all,
whether concealed or not.
The constitution of the United
States and of South Carolina guar
antce to the citizens the right to bear
arms for the common defence. The
second amendment to the constitu
ton of the United States is as fol-
lows:
ARTICLE III.
GA well regulated militia being
necessary to the security of free
State, the right of the people to keep
and bear arms shall not be infringed."
In the constitution of South Caro-
lima, article I, declaration Of rights,
section 26, it is expressed in the same
language, word for word. In the
constitution of 1868, article l, sec..
ton %, the language is "The peo.
have right to keep and bear arms
for the common defence"
The arms contemplated in these