The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1906-01-31
Repeal the Burlesque.
Editor The Manning Times:


Of the many laws that now freieh
down the statutes OF South Carolina
we think the law that was enacted t(
prohibit, and does not prohibit the
''toting" of concealed weapons is the
most ridiculous
at every session of the General AS
sembly some legislation in the way Of
making the Jaw of carrying concealed
weapons tighter, looms up and in
spite of all the legislation along the
line to prohibit, the practice to carry
concealed weapons still prevails, and
murder is added to murder from time
to time in every part of South Carolina
The time has arrived in South Caro-.
lima that peaceable and lawabiding cit
izens cannot feel safe in travelling any
public highway or in attending any
public meeting on any occasion lest he
might unintentionally rumple the feel
iags OF some pistol 'stoter" and in
''quicker than a fash,'' is shot to death
and is thereby a victim to a law that
has been entirely helpless to protest
! him.
Peaceable and inotfensiye persons in
company with their wives or daush-
ters, or with both, ana even OF their
way on the Holy Sabbath to attend di-
vine service are not safe from: Jhe fury
fof law offending carriers of:.concealed
weapons. ~.
The most that. ever COMES out OF a
case that is made out against one of the
pistol toting Offenders is .t0 infict q
penalty as punishment, to sentence one
to ohe county chaingarg. thirty days, or
to impose fine of aairty fifty dollars
and to forfeiture If the pistol to the
State.
If the offender has little money or
if he has all aptitude to beat he can
soft soap some ones sympathy by tel
ling that he did not have fair hearing
or that he was a victim to spleen and
spite, and after getting out, he con-
graduates himself on the cunning point
The has made in getting out the meshes
of the law, and soon returns to his ac-
customed practice Of toting concealed
weapon.
r. on the other hand he be one that
has no money Or the ability to tell
things that would bring him money, or
friend to the rescue, he goes to the
chaingang with the certainty OF per-
forming thirty days labor on the county
public works, coupled with the same
amount OF time for reflection, will re-
turn to freedom q better man or a worse
criminal, and he too will return 20 his
old law violating habit of toting hid
den pistol.
Let the legislature repeal this law
that is a failure and pass an act legal
ling the carrying Of a pistol by anyone
if they think best 70 do so, and we be-
lieve by law of this kind, better .re-
suits will be realized. than is by the law
against carrying concealed weapons
that has been statue law so long in
South Carolina, and SO lcngIto poor
purpose.
Law abiding persons will carry pis-
tols for defence and not for offence, and
let it be distinctly understood that any
one so far forgetting himself, becomes
the aggressor, and commits murder,
must expect to make restitution Tor his
crime by forfeiting his life upon the
gallows.
Cowardly pistol toting rowdies can
be taught a more wholesome lesson,
cne more salutary and effective by al
lowing all men il they so choose to hon.
orably carry pistols.
When all men bear arms all the dead
never be on one side for the killer stands
as good chance to be killed as to kill,
and consequently ne will be apt to act
more circumspect and prudent, ever
mindful of the fact that killing would
l. ~ fooy ~,
could play at.
Let every man have fair chance for
his life along life's pathway, and the
way to do thai is to legalize the carry
ing of pistols, and to Repeal the Bur
lesque" known as the law against car
rying concealed weapons.
GEO. r. JONES.
Davis Station.