New-York tribune., 1911-09-02
CAN'T KEEP ARMS IN HOME |
Police Department Decides All
Weapons Must Be Registered.
LICENSE FEE TEN DOLLARS
Sullivan Law Bewilders Pawn
brokers and Puts Young
Hunters Out of Business.

dealing with mysterious machines. the po-
lice mapped ont their policy on the spur
NJ the moment and followed II I'D regard
less The District Attorney. the city magis-
trates and the Court Of General Sessions
took one look at the new measure and left
n for more inquisitive minds 70 investi-
gate
Deputy Commissioner Dillon was ths
only official connected with the administ-a-
ton ~ the law who was willing n he held
for respon sible opinion. Commissioner
Waldo had placed the interpretation entire
Iv in his hands and ne knew exactly on
what grounds his men were going m make
arrests. even II the prisoners brought in by
them we're afterward released by the
courts
''Tha question which seems N interest
the public most" he said. IS whether a
man may keep revolver in his house
without a permit The answer Is. erphati-
cally no. We are willing IN issue permit
to anv citizen who can show himself a
reputable resident ~ the state and Is
willing To put M tho go fec. But the law
says that any one who wants 70 have
weapon capable of concealnnent about his
person IN his possession must also have
permit from the Police Department.
Special Permits for Homes.
we will issue two kinds of permits when
we get started. one of them will he for
places like banks. theatres. business houses
and pawnbroking establishments. They
will 90 marked Not to be removed from
the premises and will allow the holder m
maintain a whole arsenal I'm his building II
ne wants 10. SO long as he does not at
tempt to take any Of them out for a walk
The other will be the personal license
which will permit the holder TO stroll
abroad with a revolver. stilettn, black
lack or any other kind of weapon that
suits his fancy"
The Deputy Commissioner said that
about a hundred applications for permits
were received yesterday, and those WHICH
had come in during the preceding days
since the passage of the law brought the
total number up TO about three hundreu'
No permits had been issued under the new
law. he remarked, because there were no
permits 10 issue They were now In the
hands OF the printer and would be really
for distribution on Tuesday.
II had a letter" continued the Deputy
Commissioner from a man who wantei
to know whether he could keep an ola
brass cannon which he had had for years
without obtaining a permit. OF course ne
can. He can keep a hrupp gun IN DIS
parlor II he wants 10. But 1t must be a
Krupp gun. or something approXimatins
IL In size, for II IL is a toy gun he will be
arrested for having in his possession
weapon capable Of concealment about his
person"
Both Attorney General Carmody and Dis
trict Attorney Whitman have unofficially
taken the opposite view on this point, their
belief being that the courts will not hold
It a violation of the law TO keep a revolver
at home. Several hints OF popular opposi-
tion 70 an attempt 10 deprive a man OF his
right TO protect hts home through the pos
session Of a revolver came into the Police
Department yesterday.
Constitution Is invoked.
The ground on which most of the OBJ
tectors rest their case is the second amend
ment TO the Constitution, which provides
that the right Of the people to keep and
bear arms shall not be infringed. But
hackers OF the law hold that IL man can
Keep a udukSIpuo hiild-i hA III AL las AANi4D
without permit the purpose OF the law
is defeated. since it aimed primarily at
making It possible for the police TO keep
track Of every person possessing such
weapon.
That the police were carrying out the
instructions of the Fourth Deputy Com
missioner was shown by the number OF
arrests yesterday under the new law The
one 4 at aroused the greatest despair in
the b. aasts Of the judges came when
sharp-eyed patrolman discovered an alien
stepping out of Bowery pawnshop With
a shotgun under his arm. II the man hadn't
been an alien. Magistrate O'Connor said.
when the man was ARA gned IN the Tombs
Court he would not have been liable 10
arrest not having in his possession
weapon easily concealed upon his person.
But the prisoner admitted he was not
citizen and the law says that any one NOT
a citizen who carries any dangerous weapon
in a public place is guilty of 2 felony.
How About pawnbrekers?
r. being out NJ the magistrate power
Ia release the man on hail he Appealed 70
District ATTORNEY Whitman for advice. n
vas finally decided m rush the case before
Judge Swami. in Part 7 of General SEES
sions. who. not r~rceivins the Justice in
allowing an unsuspscting foreigner tn pur-
chase his way into Sing Sing with the price
Of fowlins piece. paroled the prisoner
on his promise 70 appear before the grand
Jury on Tuesday.
Sergeant Ryan. of tho 5th street station.
srrested man who said he was Martin
Ford. q bartender. ~ 10. Al East 18th
street at First avenue and 18th street last
night on charges ~ felonious assault ana
CARRYING q concealed weapon. The arrest
was made on the complaint Of Alexander
Nessner a stationary fireman. Of No. 3ta
East 18th street Sergeant Ryan said
revolver. from which one bullet had been
recently fred. vas found on Ford's person.
The psvnbrokers were hard hit by the
new Law. too. several of those that weren't
arrested for having pistols in their shops
wanted 10 know whether they could return
revoIvers that had been pawued before
the Law went into effect n their former
owners who didn't have permits and in
cas-. they couldn't how they we're going
IN dispose OF the property. The pawn
brokers who were arrested were held in
,,no hail each for further consideration.
An interesting point In the new law Is
the clause making II impossible for per
sons under sixteen Years Of age 70 obtain
q hunters license. since n prohibits them
from carving any kind NJ weapon. Tn
der the law governing the issuing of hunt
.rs' licenses there is no age limit
NEW DEPORTATION BILL
League to Modify Bennett Measure