The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-12
LETTERS TO EDITOR.
Concealed Weapon Law.
litor of the Age-Herald. A

TO the EdllOr or the Age-Berald.
 As an Alabamian and a reader of the Age-Herald, take the liberty of calling attention to fact in connection with our present utterly inexpeoient concealed weapon law.
 While it is not generally known, 1t is nevertheless true that our Supreme court has ruled that an officer is just as much subject to the laws application as private citizen, however actively engaged in the discharge of his duty. In the case of Reach vs. the state, to be found, l think, in Nintey-fifth Alabama reports, 1t was held that the defendant had violated the law although he carried the pistol in question in the active discharge Of his duties, as a deputy sheriff in making an arrest where there was good reason 10 expect desperate resistance
 While it is not the custom for grand juries to indict under such circumstances the average officer within our borders violates the law every day. Nor could he well be expected to do otherwise in the nature of things Nothing should be law which is not reason, but the present con cealed weapon law is so obviously an absurdty that it cannot be generally and impartially enforced as all laws should Had juries believed really in it's expe- diency and enforced it in the past, com mon sense would have demanded its re- peal or modification long ago.
 Because many men who spend their days and nights in call of an officer make the sweeping assertion that all pistol car rying is "a relic of barbarism," is no reason why our legislators should not give us conservative laws based on actual conditions I would be one of the last to commend the practice of going habit ually around but, I am one Of many phy- sicians whose dutuies call them at all hours among all sorts and kinds of peo- pie, some of whom have infinitely more respect for a present revolver than for a whole police force some miles away. In many other walks of life hundreds of our people have to run the rish of attack from criminals who will disarm in re- sponse to no law which can be made. Judging from newspaper accounts and common observation outrages of different sorts are exceedingly common.
 While it Is true that a passionate man some times does deplorable things which would have been averted had he been un- armed it is equally true that the really peaceable man is not going around armed for the pleasure of the thing. When the reason for it's presence is withdrawn the right kind of man is going to lay his weapon aside.
 Of course the ideal thing would be for everybody to lay down his weapons, but, unfortunately, there are q great many unregenerate souls who can't be made to see that we are living in millenial period, and who don't seem to respond well to moral suasion. We should have some law which will not disarm law abiding men and women to the advantage of the thug and the rapist. Our people should be permitted the means of de- lending themselves and those under their protection ano that without being forced to parade their arms like common bull lies.
 Judge Greene and MT. Blackburn have offered an admirable solution of a df- fcult problem, and let us hope that req son and expediency will prevail over the short-sightedness which fails to recog- nize the fact that the great number of homicldes in Alabama is not so much due to the so-called pistol evir' as to the fact that the abuse of weapons is too much condoned by sympathetic jurors. A wholesome hanging here and there would do more to promote long life in Alabama than any amount of war upon the bear ing of weapons.
 ROBERT JEMIsON HARGROvE.
 Tuscaloosa, Ala.