The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-06-14
CITIZENS PROTEST AGAINST SALE OF CHEAP ARMY GUNS Could Readily Be Stopped By
 Petition to the Secre-
 tary of War WEAPONS ARE BOUGHT BY CRIMINAL GLASSES Prominent Officers of Law and Others Point Out That Guns offered So
 Cheap Are the Most Deadly
 Weapons Known

the guns are within the reach of almost any one and even small boys.
 The same problem has been met and ties and the citizens of Greater Birlning- ham have now risen and are demanding that something be done here. The sale of these same guns was not going on in Chicago for 24 hours until a petition was sent to the Secretary of War at Wash ington and In answer to the request he prohibited the sale of the weapons.
 The interview of Chief of City Detec- tives Jack Mcdonald, which appeared in The Ase-Herald and which was in regard to the danger to property and human life on account of out-of-date United States army rifles being sold at a small price to incompetent and criminal classes of people has started the discussion.
 United States Marshal P. M. Long, when seen yesterday evening just before leaving for his home In Jasper, said: 'Yes, in deed, that is the exact kind of gun with which the Gurganus boys shot and killed Deputy Revenue Collector Arnot Ander- son few months ago in Tuscaloosa coun- ty, where the officer had been sent on duty. Anything that can be done to keep them out of the hands of the criminal classes of this country will be big step In advance in the protection of property,
 That old Springfield gun is the most deadly gun now possible to obtain If a man Is shot anywhere in the body with one of them he is seriously wounded and nine times out of ten he is mortally wounded. It is not necessary to so to the state legislature to take action to stop the sale of these guns. If the citizens of the city or county, the governor of the state, or the chief of police would pe- tition the Secretary of War at Wash ington to prohibit their sale it would be immediately stopped. There was a simi- lar condition of affairs developed in Chi cago some time ago and the chief of po- lice there simply sent a petition to the Secretary of War asking that the sale of the guns in that city be prohibited, and the request was immediately compiled with.
 Morrow FavOrs Action
 State Senator-elect Hugh Morrow said T am thoroughly in accord with the idea of stopping the sale and use of these dan gerous guns, which promote crime and threaten human life, and I know that the old army guns which are being distributed over the country by the government are of that kind. I am first in favor of talk ing legislative action concerning the mat ter If such can be done constitutionally Of this I have some doubt, however and fear that any law that legislative body could pass In regard to the matter could also be declared contrary to the constitu- ton of the United States. If the sale of these guns cannot be made unlawful, then Secretary of War J. M. Dickinson asking that he prohibit the practice
 Most Deadly Gun Made
 T. J. Kennamer deputy United States marshal. said .The old Springfield and Swiss army guns that are now being sold by pawn shops and others to all classes of people are the most deadly guns in the world. The old Springfield especially is the most cruel shooting gun that is possible to buy. These guns will shoot through nine inches of hard wood with a lead bullet. They are so very much out of date that lead bullet cart ridges are the only ones obtainable Tor use in them. The ball weighs two ounces and when 1t strikes a human limb it has actually been known to amputate 1t. If 1t does not cut 1t off it so mangles the member that amputation is necessary and if the ball strikes any part of the body proper 1t almost insures death as the massive bullet spreads upon striking and tears a terrible hole through the body, breaking bones and crushing everything in its path.
 ''They are a far more deadly gun than it is possible for an officer of the law to carry and I would rather be shot half dozen times with a Winchester than once with one of them. The Swiss guns do not shoot as deadly projectile as the Springfield but on the other hand their shooting power is far greater. They will shoot for several miles and then pene- trate 20 inches of wood''
 Hagood Points Out Danger
 Capt. T. E. Hagood, one of the oldest members of the city police department said: "Yes, I think those guns In the hands of incompetent people-and those are the people that usually buy them are a great evil. It was an intrusion or the public for the government to place them on the market. They can be used for nothing that is practicable except tc kill big game like deer bear and noun tain lion and as far as l know thai sort of game Is rather scarce in Alabama
 Besides, the government makes noth ing by their sale. Those Springfield guns are usually sold for $1.9S and the gov. ernment. suppose. gets about 9S cent. for them. The Swiss guns are sold fol from g to $50 which includes the deal CTS profits and the importation duty that the government must pay when they are brought across from Europe Tn, material in the locks and barrels of tn. guns is of the very best obtainable ant I would think that they could easily b, sold to gun manufacturers to be re- made and worked over into modern guns There are no better metals put into an, machine than Is in thRse old guns ant they could be sold to any manufacture of metals goods for as much or nor, than the government Is now getting iron their sale.
 should Put on License Tax
 "A short time ago there was nc. gro shooting over in the segregated district with one of these guns. The negro missed the man he shot at, bu