The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-04-26
Says Legislature Has Done Duty in Providing Punishment
 for Pistol ToterS
AT JUDGES DISCRETION
 TO SEND MAN TO JAIL
Representative Recalls But Two Cases Where Hard Labor Was Imposed On White Men for the
 offense.
To the Editor of The Age-Herald:

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 The firm stand taken by The AgeHer- aid and other papers of the city, for the enforcement of the law against carrying concealed weapons, Is approved and sus- tained by every lover of law and order.
 The cartoon in The Age-Herald this morning showing a desperate appeal to the closed door of the legislature is mis- leading to those who do not know what the legislature of Alabama has done to suppress this great evil, and therefore, that the people may know just what has been done and by whom, I refer to the enactment on this subject. On February 1, 1889 the legislature of Alabama passed an Act to suppress the evil practice of carrying weapons secretly" which re- quired the defendant upon conviction to be fined not less than $50 nor more than $500, and allowed the judge trying the case to impose Imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months.
 From the date of this act down to the present, there has been a statute pre- scribing severe punishment for this evil offense.
 Section APO of the code fixes the fine at from $50 to $500 and empowers the judge to add imprisonment or hard labor flor not more than six months"
 In the Judgment of many thoughtful persons this law is severe enough if promptly and firmly enforced to suppress this growing evil
 Whether this Is true is open for discuss sion, but there can be no discussion as to the fact that the legislature of Alabama has not "closed It's door," to the appeal of the citizen for a law punishing men who carry concealed weapons. Then why do we see and hear of so many who vio- late this law and yet are never punished, or if convicted by the Jury or the court trying the defendant are let off with the lowest fine?
 The answer is easy. The law as it now stands, leaves it discretionary with the judges to impose Imprisonment and they have not exercised this discretion N favor of upholding the law.
 I do not recall but two cases where hard labor was imposed by the judge on white man for this offense.
 If the judges would uniformly impose hard labor on every person convicted, and from time to time, until the evil prac- tice was suppressed. increase the term of hard labor, till the maximum term allow ed by law. six months, was invariably imposed, Is it not very certain that many men, now walking arsenals, would dis arm?
 Again, suppose every judge who saw an officer come into court with a pistol un- der his coat or clothing would promptly and firmly fine him and imprison him for contempt, and at the same time bind him over to answer for the offense, would not this course tend to increase the re- spect for the court and the law?
 Does 1t not now appear that many doors are practically closed to the appeal of the people for protection by the law, and that the legislative door has never been closed In Alabama since 1889?
 Hold to the line, MT. Editor and the people will uphold you.
 SAM WILL JOHN,
 Birmingham. April 25. 1901