New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-10
TO ENFORCE PISTOL LAW
Citizens Committee to Confer
with Police Commissioner.
WOULD CLEAR WRONG IDEAS
Will Urge Rounding Up and
Searching of Persons Known
To Be Dangerous.

The Citizens COMMITTEES. which was
formed last year 10 urge the enactment
OF stricter laws governing the sale and
carrying OF firearms and other weapons.
will hold a meeting next week 10 discuss
the best means OF enforcing the new Sui
Ivan law, for the passage Of which the
committee worked energetically- Among
the members OF the organization are VIII
lis L. ogden, Jacob n. Schif. Isaac y.
Selgman. r. c. A Smith. Geno Speranza
and many other well known business men
G. r lie Brun, Of the coroner's office, 10
who're initiative the formation or the
Citizens Committee was due, said yester-
day that the principal purpose Of the meet
ing was 10 clear up the many wrong
ideas spread abroad about the Sullivan
law The committee. he said. was anxious
to have the law enforced according 70 the
spirit in which IL was enacted II being
directed against the criminal element in
the community and not the lawabiding
citizens.
When the law was passed" Mr.. lie
Brun said. the Board Of Aldermen had
adjourned and there was no possibility Of
securing from that body an amendment
TO the city ordinance requiring a $40 fee
for license 10 carry weapons This pro-
vision has been stretched 10 cover applica-
lions for licenses 10 keep a weapon at
home, and We think that this should not
be. We expect that the Board OF Alder
men will pass resolution requiring a
nominal fee Of 81. except on applications
for carrying weapons. where the fee OF 80
should be retained. This will remove much
Of the opposition 10 the law, and the police
will be able 10 keep complete records OF
weapons in the possession Of private per-
sons"
The ideal enforcement Of the law, in Mr..
lie Bruins opinion. would be TO appoint a
special police squad for the rounding up
and searching Of persons known to the
police as dangerous With this suggestion
in view a delegation will call on Police
Commissioner Waldo and Chief Magistrate
McAdoo next week
One Of the most important plans Of the
committee is to induce the legislatures OF
New Jersey and Connecticut 10 pass laws
similar to the Sullivan act, thus preventing
criminals from purchasing weapons in a
neighboring state when they fail 70 obtain
licenses here.
The first clear case Of the actual firing
Of a weapon carried in violation Of the
new law which has come up in the courts
since the law went into effect was called
before Magistrate Butts in the Morrisania
court yesterday morning. The defendant
was AmeillO Pignataro, who admitted fir
ing a revolver 10 scare away a crowd Of
boys that annoyed him while he was act
ing as Waterman for Joseph y. Tippelli,
a contractor, who is paving the Southern
Boulevard from 133d street to 13Sth street.
TippelH testified in court that he had
found difficulty in obtaining night watch
men because Of the rowdes who terror
lied the neighborhood. He had received a
telephone message from Pignataro Friday
might, he said, asking for help to drive
away a gang that was annoying him.
When Tippeli arrived on the scene the
gang had vanished and his Waterman was
in the hands OF a patrolman.
In view OF the fact that it was his first
case under the new law Magistrate Butts
did not care to be- hasty In his judgment.
Il will require more time to think it
over" he said. in order that a proper
decision may be handed down.
He held Pignataro In 800 ball for further
examination tomorrow.
Mabel Leon, OF No. 30 Third avenue,
Brooklyn. was held for trial yesterday by
Magistrate Geismar on a charge OF assault
and having a revolver in her house without
a license.
The woman had trouble on Friday night
with Henry Holdstrom, whom she chased
10 the street. When Patrolman Long ap-
reared Holdstrom made a charge OF assault
against the woman, and the patrolman
went TO her home with her while she put
on her hat There he saw a revolver on the
bureau and seized IL. When the prisoner
was arraigned he lodged a complaint
AGAINST her under the new Sullivan law.