Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1907-11-28
Full for Fitzgerald or Pull Out
THE PISTOL-CARRYING HABIT.

THE FISIUL-LANNIINU HADlI'
The majority of murders in the South can he
directly traced to the pistol carrying haolt, wnlch
for years has been menace to public safety. Inc
greater number of cases of mansaughter In this
section are due to the ready impuslVe use OF the
pocket pistol in the hands of men and boys whose
brains are infamed with drink and whose reason
is temporarily dethrOned from the use OF sunni
lants or drugs The press of the South has Tor
wears attempted to combat this dangerous habit,
bringing to bear upon this menacng evil the force
of argument and invective. Thus far but little
has been accomplished toward abOshing the peck
ct pistol and it will probably continue to jeopar-
die the lives of men, women and children until
effective legal enactment makes it unlawful to con
tinue the practice as it now exists The Alabama
house of representatives now in extra session at
Montgomery has just passed the John pistol carry
ing bill which provides that no gun shall be sold
in that state with barrel less than twenty -four
inches long. The bill also provides against the
sale or barter having possession OF small deadly
weapons, such as pistols, dirks, bowie knives,
brass knucks, or sling shots, making the same a
miSdemeanor for which the maximum fine shall be
one thousand dollars and the offender liable to DE
sentenced to hard labor. The vote i'll passing this
bill-53 to 5-indicates the awakening Of a proper
public sentiment regarding this important matter
1t is to be hoped that other Southern legislatures
will take early action regarding the pocket pistol
habit similar to that of the Alabama law makers.
Rev. W L. c. Hunnicut, well known
Methodist clergyman has recently published in a
Georgia exchange notable article on the danger
of pistol carrying. What DR.. Hunnicutt has writ
ten deserves the careful consideration of men in
public and private life and should do much to-
ward crystallizng sentiment upon this subject
which shall result at no distant day III law
which will prove effective in abolishing pistols
from the pockets of all classes Of men. DIR. Hun
nicut in discussing this vital issue says:
EIt perhaps has not occurred to many minds
that the pistol is public enemy and ought to be
abolished In the name of humanity arraIgn the
pistol for trial, conviction and determination
'The law against carrying concealed weapons
has about reached the limit of effectiveness. Its
force has always been largely educational and those
who still carry pistols quite beyond the reach OF
educational influences Pistols will be carried
concealed as long as they are made concealable.
Let them be abolished and let the shortest lawful
gun be three feet long.
''The idea that pistols put men on physical
equality is complete delusiOp The man who
gets the drop on the other has immense adVapt-
age. whether he be weak or strong.
Equally great is the other delusion that a
man may protect his life by carrying pistol. a
pistol on mans person is often at once the cause
of his being shot and the justification of his slayer
Rarely if ever is man hanged for killing another
who had pistol on his person.
THE pistol is not only the instrument but the
occasion, sine qua non, of many hOmcides. Wits
ky fires the brain, while the hand fires the pistol
that sends thousands of our citizens to untimey
deaths every year.
'The pistol is of the most unmitigated
and most inexcusable of evils, and the Christian
people largely responsible for its existence. 1t
ought to be crime for a man to have, use, buy or
sell pistol. When the Christians in the land
rise up in their might and say that pistols must be
abolished it will be done: We are verify guilty
concerning our brother in this matter VI i'll the
of this day wait until the women come for
ward, they did in the recent temperance crusade
and lead to a victory whose chief glory shall be
long to the women! They have the example of
Deborah of old to assume leadership when men
have not the necessary courage