The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-09
Atlantic Co North Carolina Railroad.

way of settling their difficulties among
themselves and denying all knowledge
of them to the police.
When these two thousand young
men, however, range abroad to Coney
Island and Harlem resorts; when they
get drunk on cheap WhiSkey and be-
gin to shoot. endangering the lives of
respectable men and women in rail
way trains and popular resorts--they
get into prison, frequently going to
Sing Sing. The point which | wish to
impress is that they all should go TO
Jail for six months at least because
they have thus endangered the lives of
others.
The foreigners in New York are as
rule peaceful and law-abiding peo-
pie. Those coming from the Latin
countries are hot of temper, and fire.
quently carry knives and frequently
use them when tempted. AS a class,
however, they are not nearly SO troub-
lesome as the young men mentioned,
because they do not get recklessly
drunk as do the others.
Special Legislation is needed on this
whole subject, however. Knife-carry-
ing is different from pistol carrying.
1t is in a way even more pernicious, as
much less deliberate intent, much less
resolution and action, are needed to
use a knife than to draw and shoot a
pistol. Moreover, the knife is silent,
while the report of pistol usually IN
eureS attention and arrest. But every
one of these foreigners should be de-
prived of his knife. and everyone of
these young men of his pistol. There
is not the slightest question as TO what
ought to be done, for such depriva-
ton would be as definite and distinct
he mo -fl.lt ,l,ia &C n
the community. 1t is an axiom in po-
lice circles that q concealed weapon is
more dangerous, as a temptation to
crime to the carrier than to anyone
else.
Regarding the remedy, the existing
laws in all the States would go far to
meet the difficulty if they were intel
ligently and severely enforced They
provide that any person who carries
a concealed weapon, without permit
to do so, is guilty of misdemeanor
and may be punished by years I'M
prisonment and a fine of i've hundred
dollars or both. The trouble is that
persons convicted of Carrying concealed
weapons are let off with fines varying
from ten dollars to fifty dollars. The
customary penalty does not take into
consideration the seriousness of the Of
Tense. If everyone of the young law
breakers mentioned knew and DeleVed
that carrying a weapon would insure
him. if caught, year in prison, the
custom would cease in tWenty-Iouf
hours If the Italians of the East Side
knew the same thing, the knives would
disappear.
If i'm all the great cities of the coun-
try it became known that a concert or
action among magistrates had been
oh n
concealed weapon would receive
upon detection at least six months IN
Jail, the list of homicides and crimes
of violence for the coming year might
easily be reduced one-half. Ana II a
little vigorous action, which is not only
fully justified but imperatiVely de-
handed by circumstances, will pre-
vent something like fifty thousand
crimes of violence in the coming year
what is the matter with a public opin-
ion that leaves such n wrong un-
righted? The penalty is fully justi-
fed, because every man carrying
Weapon is already poten-
TALLY laW-breaker; is already declar-