The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1901-02-20
This Bill ForbIds tho Carrying OF
Flrs arms Less Than
Twenty lrches in
terg h

amendment at some length
Senator Aldrich thought it the best
bill that has been introduced ct this
session. Public opinion has crystal
lid on two Ioints, he said, that whis
key and pistols are responsible for
most OF the crime. The penalty for
carrying concealed weapons is entirely
too low. He knew Of no evil In the
State more to be deplored thau the al.
most universal custom Of carrying con.
cealed weapons. 1t is a most dc
moralizing and degrading thing. The
penalty cannot be made too severe.
The habit Of carrying q concealed wea-
pom will make coward Of any man
All the coursge he ever had will be
sunk in the barrel Of his pistol, aud if
-aa ever gets into row without bis
pistol he will run as sure as he lives
A pistol is disgraceful thing, aud no
man ought to be allowed TO carry one
whether concealed or not. If a man
need a fire s1m at al he nce eds a gun
and not pistol
Senator Henderson said he was as
much oppose d to carrying concealed
weapons as anybody, but he thought
this proposed law would be unoonsti
tutional, rs it forbids the right given
by the constitution of carrying arms,
and this bill will prof. ibit US from car
rying pistols, concealed or rot. Tho
bill, he thought would be unconstitu-
tional, and for that reason he could not
vote it.
Mr.. Ildcrton suggested au amend
mept that man could not carry
weapons without just cause or OK
euse." He thought the wiscst thing to
do would be to stop tho Importation
and sale of pistols. He thought the
bill under discussion should pass.
Senator Mower analysed the bill. In
ttc first place, it absolutely forbid;s .
slG 49, pistol, wbetheT
kind is entirely unconsuuutionar. II 4
also provides that there shall not be
sold In this State fire arm Of less than
certain size ard weight He seriously
doubted il the passage Of laws on this
subject will accomplish much good.
We will have to have something be
sides laws.
Senator Henderson said he did not be
lieve the law would do any good, that
it would be violated just as the present
law against concealed weapons is
violated.
Senator Msyfeld offered an amend
ment that person desiring to carry a
concealed weapon might obtain an an
nusl license from the clerk of court at
an annual cost Of $50, and smoke in
favor of his amendment. If a man
thinks he ought to 60 armed he ought
to be allowed to do so, and the people
ought to know it. So let him take out
license, and let every body know that
he has taken out such license.
Senator Henderson said this amend.
ment would still not make the law con-
stitutional. The taking out of IL
oense would not protect anybody. He
moved to strike out the cnactipg
words of the bill.
Senator Graydon ccntended that this
bill would be constitutional as the Ian
guage Of the constitution as to the
right OF the people to bear arms re-
ferred only to the militia.
Senator Stanland thought this a most
important measure, and that some law
OF this kind should be passed. He
spoke OF the conditions in the lower
counties, and said protection of some
kind was sorely needed.
The vote to strike out the enacting
words resulted as follows:
Ayes-BarnWell, Bowen, Brantley.
Brown, Dennis, Glenn, Gruber, Hender
son, Hydrick, Moore, Mower, Sharpe,
Talbird and Walker-l6.
Noes-Aldrich, Appelt BIakenev
Brice, CaughmaD, Desn, Douglas,
Gaines, Graydon, Hough, Ilderton,
Livingston, Manning, Marshall. Nav,
field, McDermott, Ssrratt, Stack ouse,
stanlsnd, Sullivan and Williams-21.
The senate refused to strike out tho
enaoting words.
Senator Applet offered an amend
ment that 8 man might be allowed to
carry concealed weapon upon rayipz
an annual fee Of $50 license to be i
sued by clerk of the court.
Senator Hough opposed this license
feature. If we are going to prohibit
the carrying of conc called weapons let
us prohibit outright. If man wants
to carry weapon for defense let him
carry it open and aboveboard.
SopaSol liVSItOu hlSp opposed IL ana
thought it would discriminate against
the poor man, who might be unable to
pay the license, whatever it might be.
He thought his amendment as to 'just
CAUSE or excuse would cover the
ground.
senator Msyfeld withdrew his
amendment.
Senator GIaydon offered an amend
ment to simply make it unlawful for a
man to carry FIRE arm less than 20
inches in length or less than three
pounds in weight. This, he said, will
give a mau the right to bear any arms
except pistols.
Senator Brown moved 10 indefinitely
postpone the whole matter.
On this the vote was 10 to ~, and the
senate refused to postpone the bill.
The question Of adopting Senator
Graydon's amendment then came up
and was adopted by vote of Is to 10.
A vote was then taken on Senator IL
derton's 'just cause or excuse" amond-
ment and it was voted down.
Senator Gruber moved to indefinitely
postpone the bill, but the chair ruled