The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-01-24
Prominent Citizens Express Views
on the Subject
THE REMEDIES SUGGESTED
The Aee-HeraId's Course In Seeking to
Quicken Public Sentiment is En-
dorsed-concealed Weapon
Is Badge of cowardice.

tent, continues to be the absorbing topic
of conversation among the public officials,
both city and county and citizens gener-
ally Many views have been expressed
recently as to the best remedy for cor
recting the existing evil Legislation
which will license the carrying of wea-
pons by law-abiding citizens for their
own protection. heavy penalties for the
violation of the present laws, and new
laws altogether against carrying weapons
are some of the plans suggested
Several citizens and men engaged in
business in Birmingham express the view
that the reckless carrying of concealed
weapons by irresponsible persons has a
tendency to injure the town. Some say
that many people will go elsewhere, fear
ing their lives would be endangered by
coming here A travelling passenger agent
of railroad, whose headquarters are in
Birmingham, said last night that 1t is
true people in different sections Of the
state really fear a Birmingham man I'M
less they know him well.
Birmingham's Reputation.
"Quite often when l visit a city and in
troduce myself, stating that my head
quarters are in Birmingham" the railroad
man said, Some remark will be made
about the reckless manner in which wea-
pons are carried and used In this city"
Following are expressions of citizens on
the subject of carrying weapons
j. II. Burgn: 1.-THE lawmakers of the
state should enact such legislation as
would make it unnecessary for a law
abiding citizen to carry a weapon
j. A. w. Smith; 1.-THE law ought to be
SO changed as to prohibit the carrying
of weapons whether concealed or not, un-
able by everybody. Such law as this
exists in Texas and l understands pre-
vents the carrying of weapons more eff
fectively than is done in any other south
ern state"
7. H. Motion: "The subject of carry
ing concealed weapons has been agitated
and discussed from time to time as far
back as I can remember. There are times
and circumstances under which l think
any gentleman is justified in going armed
and [ am sure that no gentleman wants
to be seen going around with a pistol ex
posed 1 think the suggestions made by
Judge Samuel E. Greene, when this mat
ter was being agitated some months since,
comes nearer being a sensible and cor
rect proposition than any that ] have
ever heard
M II. Crittenden: II don't think that
the law against carrying concealed wea-
pons can be too rigidy enforced. We
man walking down the streets of Bir-
mingham will be shot down by an ire
sponsble person. This, of course, gives
Birmingham a bad reputation abroad,
and has a tendency to keep law abiding
people away from here. If a greater
penalty for the violation of the law could
be fixed / think that 1t should be DONE"
William Lindsay: 81 have carried con-
cealed weapons, but hope the circumstan-
ces which compelled me to do so will
never occur again. / think the most
stringent laws are necessary to prevent
our people being SO thoroughly advertised
abroad as ready handlers of the gun, to
say nothing of the safety of our citizens.
Our vagrancy laws should be enforced,
too. In many instances 1t is the worthless
men who are the ones always armed and
always ready to use their weapons"
The Best Course.
Judge w. r. Houghton. Il have studied
the pistol toting problem great deal and
hardly know what is the best thing to
be done. In my opinion the Age-Herald
has adopted the best course-to keep ham,
mering at public sentiment until it makes
a man ashamed to carry a weapon. l do
not think that the license plan would be
effective. for under the plan suggested the
men who would be able to procure piss
tolls would not need or use them, and
the thugs would carry them anyway IL
the law were enforced to the limit against
all classes 1t would break up the habit,
but most of all I think that the news
papers have the power to remedy the
evil"
w. J. Allison, clerk of the United States
court: 81 would be willing to have an act
passed giving officers of the law the right
to search any one suspected Of carrying
concealed weapon. personally would not
object to being searched If that would
break up the pistol toting habit believe
such law would be effective"
william Vaughan 'rhe best way to
stop carrying concealed weapons in Bir-
mingham is to give such police protec-
ton that a good citizen will not feel the
need of a pistol to protect himself. and
that would also break up the tough char
acters. l don't think that legislation Will
ever effect anything You might legslate
till doomsday but that will never do any
good until Birmingham gets to be such
a good town that a pistol is never
needed"
Judge Stiles.
Judge J. F. Stiles: II hardly know what
would be the best way to break up the
pistol toting habit unless public senti-
ment can be aroused TO such an extent
that men will be ashamed to carry a
weapon. 1t will be somewhat matter
of education. but when popular sentiment
is sufficiently aroused men will gradually
stop carrying concealed weapons. think
1t might also be a good plan to tag men
who carry pistols and make them register
in some manner so that every one would
know they carried pistol. IL they were
forced to cary pistol where 1t could be
seen it would have the same effect Also
make a man pay a heavy fine and a sem
tence in Jail when arrested with pistol
If he had not registered and is not prop
erly badged."
Chief Mullin, of the fire department.
II have never felt the need of carrying