The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-01
Senator HinSon Points Out the Necessity for New Law Re-
 gafdIngCanying Weapons
SUBMITS BILL WHICH
 HAS BEEN INTRODUCED
Says More Crimes Are Committed By Negroes With Shotguns and Rifles Than By Those With Con-
 ceaIed Weapons.
To the Editor The Age-Herald.

To the Editor The Age-Herald.
 Noting and appreciating your timely crusade against the carrying of concealed firearms, I take the liberty of enclosing you a copy of Senate bill 110, which I in- troduced in the early part of the session of the present legislature. This bill was adversed by the committee to which it was referred. The principal objection be- ing found by the committee in section 10 thereof.
 Considering this section the most val uable feature of the bill I frankly told the committee I preferred an unfavor- able report to an amendment striking out this section. After considerable work, in cluding personal appeals to senators. I succeeded in having the bill placed on the calendar by a vote of twenty-two to eight. But you of course understand, that this does not mean that the twenty-two senators are pledged to vote for the bill. l purposely made no effort to pass the bill before the legislature adjourned, because I believed that during the adjournment the members of the legislature would be- come better acquainted with public opin- ion on this subject and I also hoped ito have the assistance of the newspapers lin acqualnting them with this sentiment. Il therefore submit the bill for your care hful study and consideration, and trust tand believe that its leading features will meet with your approval.
 { If you were a resident of the "BlaclS Belt at the present tlme you could readily see the necessity for stringently restricting the carrying of all firearms, concealed or otherwise, and I cannot see what injury this restriction could do any other section of the state. We have as many. possibly more, murders among the negroes. committed with shotguns, Win chester rifles and unconcealed pistols, as are committed with pistols which were concealed. And in the event of a race lriot in any black belt county at the present time, the negroes would have on hand for immediate use incomparably more improved firearms than would the whites. Within the last three years four white men, that know of have been shot by negroes and in no instance did the negro use a pistol, but shotguns loaded with buck shot, This bill by pre- venting them from carrying their guns, would cause them to soon dispose of them, and I believe that under It's oper- alton, within three years a race riot wou,d be almost an impossibility in this state.
 There are circumstances and conditions under which it is imperative that law abiding men should arm themselves, and this bil! makes provision for this neces- sty. and absolutely outlaws the vicious and dangerous.
 I am not welded to the amount of the license tax provided for in this bill and may offer an amendment reducing It.. Nor am I particularly attached to the 8punishment provided for section 8. This would probably be more effective If 1t was simply limited to three months at thard labor, which would permit no escape Inv payment of money. I would prefer Htha. this section be stricken out alto sether than to lose section 10, which will 8of itself enforce the law.
 The bill appears to be unconstitutional until you reach section Il, which, in my Iopinion makes It safe in this respect.
 will appreciate any suggestion of Amendment that you may desire to make Ito the bill submitted.
 EVANS HINSON.