Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-30
CARRYING CONCEALED WEAPONS.
Some of the Absurdities of the Law
Pointed Out.

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
The frequent commission of crimes in the
District of Columbia within the last few
years, especially those against women,
should induce the people of this District to
do something upon the subject. l believe
that the enactment of the law against car
rying deadly weapons is largely respon-
sible for this condition of affairs.
The enactment of the law has not pre-
vented a single criminal from carrying
deadly weapons whenever he felt like car
rying or using them; but it has completely
disarmed all law-abiding citizens for the
benefit of the criminal classes. More muir
ders and other atrocious crimes have been
enacted within the limits of the District of
Columbia and surrounding country since
its enactment than ever before within the
| same space of time. 1t may be safely es-
timated that nine-tenthS of the crimes that
have been committed in the District of Co.
lumbia within this space of time have been
committed against unarmed persons, and
would never have been committed had the
victims been armed.
Some of the absurdties of this law will
appear when it IS known that the following
are some Of the persons who are liable to
Imprisonment in the penitentiary for three
years under its provisions: Every surgeon
who twice carries his surgical instruments
In his handbag or about his person for the
purpose of using them professionally;
every person who twice carries his razor
III MS nd1luDdS from the depot TO MS motel,
and vice versa: every physician who twice
goes around when called in the dead Of
night to a dangerous locality; every per-
son who twice goes to a shop for the pur-
pose of selling his weapon; every person
who twice carries his weapon to a pawn
shop; unless honing a razor can be called
repairing ii, every person who twice car
ries his razor to his barber to be honed;
every travelling salesman who twice car
ries around his samples of raZorS or knives
TO make sales from; every bank or express
messenger carrying the funds Of bank or
express company; even the President of the
United States or a member of Congress is
precluded from arming himself against
assassins or fanatics. These only a
few of the absurdities of the unconstitu-
tional law. Is it any wonder that the
courts of the District of Columbia are con-
stantly crowded with criminal cases. and
that women are afraid to live in the out
skirts of the city, when reputable and
useful citizens are diSarmed for the benefit
of criminals by act of Congress? Some
people inclined to blame that over
worked body, the police, for the condition of
things. They do not seem to realize that
under the existence of such a law 1900
policemen would not be sufficient to prevent
these crimes. For years past | have been
writing newspaper articles on this subject,
and before the recent law was enacted
clearly predicted what would be its re-
suits.
AS a remedy for the evil I propose that
Congress repeal the present law in the
District relating to the carrying of deadly
weapons, and in lieu thereof enact a law pro-
vidtng that every person who when com
uniting or attempting to commit a crime
shall be armed at the time with deadly
weapon shall in addition to the penalty i'm
posed for the one offenSe be also liable to
Imprisonment in the penitentiary for three
years for the offense of being armed Every
person VINO enters place where intoxicat-
ing liquors are sold or dispensed when so
armed shall be subject to a like penalty
Every person VINO when armed as