The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-17
THAT nANGERous HABIT.

The killing of ex-Senator Carmaok IS another count in the indictment against the pernicious habit of carrying con- cealed weapons; habit that is con tinually adding to the tragedies of the country. Leaving out all question of who was to blame in the beginning or during the continuance of the trouble between MT. Carmack and the coopers 1t may be said that the killing was the natural result of going armed. Two men who are at enmity meet on the street; each draws pistol from his pocket and the result is that one dead man is left, and sometimes both are victims. If there had been no gun in the handy hip-pocket the affair might have been settled without fatali- ty. but 1t is so easy to pull out pis- tol and shoot that the temptation over powers all other considerations.
 There cannot be single valid and sensible reason given for going armed In this country under ordinary cendl- tions. There are occasional instances where a mans life has been threaten ed. and where he has sound reasons for believing that he is not safe if he goes unarmed but such instances are few, and in many cases even of this sort the citizen cannot protect himself against the practiced thug or assassin R,t when A mans life is thus threaten ed would 1t not in all cases be better to amply to the law for protection than to become a murderer? Even staying A human being In self -denfense is not A pleasant thing to do. and when It can be avoided the after consequences and results would usually be much more pleasant and satisfactory.
 In the recent tragedy In Nashville we can see no excuse for either party It is true that Carmack had given cause of offense to the Coopers, and it is also true that they had made threats. or had made use of language which was construed into threats, but if neither of the parties had gone arm ed on that day there would have been no killing. and the trouble between the men might have been settled with out violence and without discredit, Call 1t manslaughter. or murder or as- sassination, or whatever We may the fact remains that a prominent and useful man lies cold in his grave and three other men are held to answer for the offence-and all because their pockets contained handy and deadly weapons.
 Ours is supposed to be government of law and order. but is it really such when men kill each other on the streets? The quiet law-abiding and peace-Ioving citizen goes about his daily business without thought of dan ger and with no fears for his personal safety. If he learns that he has given offence to some other citizen or If he has been offended. he does not arm himself and set out with blood in his eve and death in mind to meet and take the life of the other man. but seeks a way to settle the misunder- standing honorably and peacefully. as such matters can always be settled where each side is willing to be fair and just
 If is not fair to say. as some do, that A man who carries a concealed pistol or other weapon is always a coward, for that is not true. Men who possess the highest form of physical courage may carry pistols concealed about their persons. but plainly they are lack ing in that respect for the law and for neace and order that should mark all good citizens. The laws against car rying concealed weapons are just as positive and definite as are the laws against stealing, and the good citizen has no more right to violate one than the other. but how differently they are viewed by most men! The man who would not knowingly wrong another ant of cent. who would scorn to take anything unlawfully. or do any other act that would be looked on as dIs- eyeiitable. will not think 1t wrong to violate aaOther plain law of his state He will go out with the deadly pistol In his pocket. thus not only defying the law against the practice but pre- pared to violate the law against taking human life. In short the stickler for honesty and uprightness will set one law at definance and hold himself