The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-01-02
AFTER THE GUN ToTERs.

Mr.. Editor: The county attorneys
determination to prevent the illegal
carrying of firearms Is to be commended,
Hs says the law hero In not a concealed
weapon one. but applies to an. one who
carries a gun. Is II possible that the
city of Guthrie can pass a measure that
conflicts with the constitution OF the
United States7 Let me refer IN. little
Irish friend to article 1, amendment 2.
OF the constitution. and then tell me If
he has not innocently violated this pro-
vision in the case of these colored men.
Tho constitution forblds any law pre-
venting the people from keeping or bear
ing arms. Our forefathers were de-
prlved of this privilege by King George.
but after Gus independence was declared
these same patriot forefathers drew up
laws to govern a free people and de-
cided that a militia should be organized.
and that. to that end anyone should be
| allowed to keep and bear arms" l am
aware that the statute does not allow
| tho indiscriminate carrying Of con-
cealed pistols or other weapons. and
while the law IS supposed to be founded
| upon reason. yet 1t Is not reason that
! the law does not allow that Circum.
stances do not alter cases, and the case
I of these colored men is one of the ex-
ceptions. The constitution intends that
the prohibiting of the carrying about ol
concealed weapons has no connection
with times of war" or public danger,
and does not alter or take away the lib
erty of black man or a white man L
keep arms or carry them If necessary fol
public or personal safety. But the per
son carrying a concealed weapon can no
constitute a defense of the statute b!
saying that he was in danger of bodil!
harm or of beng robbed, as this Is
question for the court to decide. Now
on page 313 OF Rights and Privilege
of Citizen" 1t says that the prohibi
tion to carry arms does not for mo
ment alter the right OF the public to bea
arms when they can prove that tn
N said bearing of arms was considered nee
! essary. The statute law recognizes
| higher law than itself and that Is TIL
law of God or of nature. and the frs
clause IN that law Is self preservation
and it was this law that those colore
gentlemen were preparing to carry ou
when they provided themselves wit
| loaded -evolvers. The citizens of Guth
rio must remember that the law Is n
respecter OF persons, even II the count
attorney holds an opposite belief. an
the citizens must remember that thas
colored men were honest, law abidin
citizens and had about four thousan
! dollars on their persons and tLat the
were travelling as strangers in a strang
land and that II was possible for them l
meet with hold up" Now. this is ia
kind Of circumstance that made 1t law
full for these gentlemen TO carry con
eealed weapons; and with all due respec
for the legal ability of Mr.. MCGUIRE an
those who assisted him in this breac
Of tho law, ! would say that they hav
made a mistake and that II they do nc
remedy that mistake by returning tn
money and the guns to the place whenc
they came 1t will prove a boomerang I
all concerned when the ides of Marc
draw near and they seek political pre-
ferment or position at the hands of tn
people. Respectfully,
]. TWAMLEY.