The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-25
PISTOL LAWS AND HOMICIDE.

PISTOL LAW = AN - IttbMl lDE.
A few years ago a Boston citizen, having
developed weakness Of the lungs ordered
BY his physician back to nature and into the
open. Fate led him toward Texas circum-
glance that caused him, though a tendcrfoot, to
prepare against the day when it would be a
question of whether the lungs that were ma
lingering on their job would be puncured by
piece, of lead from the pistol Of quicker man.
In pursuance of the first law OF clfpreserya
ton, THEREFORE this particular Bostonese pur-
chased beautiful highpowcred revolver, en-
gagged an instructor and before he started West
and South had attained to degree of pre-
fciency that enabled him TO pull like fash
TO fan the trigger so that all six shots ran into
one report. and to bore any sizeable Bnot-hole
within a range Of twenty yards
Texas experience in this ease did not, how
ever, tit in with the usual romances written Of
those parts No sooner was the stranger alight-
ed from his train than lank specimen Of Texas
constable sized him up, famed him from the
rear, discovered the presence Of his arsenal and
had him in Jail in default of am exorbitant
bond within twenty minutes after his arrival.
In fact. it took the Governor of Massachusetts,
half dozen Congressman and Senators and the
kindly services of the Hon. Joe Bailey to keep
this misguided visitor OUT of the penetentiary,
and then only upon the distinct understanding
that he leave Texas and never return-a slip
ulation, in fact, that will be- readily perceived
40 have been superhuous.
- The moral of which Is that the efficacy of
statutes prohibiting the carrying of concealed
weapons depends upon the necessity for their en-
forcement. It Is exactly because the Texans so
enjoy shooting that the Texas laws are so string
ent against the practice that makes for tenn
peramental indulgence. The law of scf-prc-
servalon works from the top Ia the bottom. Not
infreqnently. with State as well as an in.
digidua it l. worked ont with a painful all
4 stnence. II Is SO that in Texas, and Nahama
in Mississippi and other places whore there i
nervous affection of the forehnger. the pisto
is more serious condition and It's possession
grayer offense than in communities where it j
worn. If at all, more as fad than for use
In view of the homcidcs that are pulled off
without the aid of the pistol in defiance Of TIN
felony of carrying one, in these States it is
matter of shuddcring con lecture to villa
happen the laws not drawn rs thc'
arc.
Take for example, the case ~ Vest Virginia
In order to possess pistol legally in that Stat,
it is necessary that man first advertise publicl,
his desire TO do So for ten days He must her
make formal application 10 the court, bringing
forward witnesses to his character, habits ant
trustworthincss. If the court grants his appli
cation, he must pay ten dollars as license tax
and give the State a bond in the sum of SO .00(
conditioned upon his careful manipulation OF
his trcarin. IT, after all these requirements one
either in haste or disregard of the law does sill
a pistol into his hip pocket, he becomes thereb,
a felon, whose sentence upon conviction mus
70 IN in he 1Uf
for term of not less than six months
One would think that if anything could de
Der homicide, it would he a statute such as this
Yet what is the result The West Nirginan>
are being killed off like flies in a dining room
They shot, hit the head, slashed, choked
mangled, and lnanhandIed 10 their doom Ever,
conceivable weapon from n shotgun to a shoot
Ing stick figures in the carnage. 1t was onl,
the other day that in four line dispatch from
Blnefeld, giving the bare fact Of another mai
with his juggler looking like the space between
The links on a chain of Frankfurers, it wa,
stated that This makes the fifteenth murder il
The State within len DAYS"
We call attention to this fact, not for the pur
pose of erticzing the Law, but rather to indicat,
Low il was passed in the nick of time to pre-
vent already appalling casualties deeeneratins
into an internecne strife of exterminatioll
~ There must be something in the name OF
Bluefelds CORY theatre of West Virginia anc
Nicaragua alike, which induces to the letting o.
blood an impulse that will be met and counter
acted only when everything is cut up by ma
chinery, all the knives are blunted, and every
citizen is required TO 60 about with mits upor
his claws.
LOCATING THE INDIAN SCANDAL.