The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1912-03-23
EFFORT FOR NATION
wide BULLET PROOF"
REVOLVER Law

Springfield, Mass, March 23.-The
United States Revolver association,
which provides the American teams
in international championship matches
and which is now getting together
team to represent the United States in
the Olympic contests next summer,
has decided to take hand in the re-
volver law legislation that is going on
pretty much all over the country
This announcement was made here by
j. B. Crabtree, secretary treasurer of
the association. According to Mr..
Crabtree, the decision of the revolver
association was made when it found its
effort was hampered by revolver legis-
latlon to such an extent that in many
cases its members, consisting of
nearly all the crack shots in the coun-
try, were unable lawfully to carry
their pistols between their homes and
their revolver ranges. When inter-
viewed, Secretary Crabtree said:
Things have come to a pretty pass
when law-abiding citizens that are ex-
perts in the handling of firearms, may
not lawfully carry a target pistol from
their homes to a shooting range, all
because, of handful of crooks which
the police are unable to handle.
This feature, however, Is merely
what originally suggested our &C.
ton. The danger lies in the expert
mental secret weapons legislation
which is taking place pretty much all
over the country. Many states, like
Massachusetts,, learned in time, what
a fizzle New York state made by leg
islating so that it has become almost
impossible for the 1aw-abiding citizen
to buy arms for legitimate home pro-
lection. Other states are enacting
other experimental laws along differ
ent lines. The result is a mess of
conflicting laws so absurd that even
express messengers allowed to wear
firearms in one state are obliged TO
take these off and lock them up in
closets as they cross the line into an
adjoining state.
For these reasons we have decided
through our $500 members scattered
throughout the country, to try to put
bullet-proof revolver law upon the
statutes of every state.
Experience in New York has shown
that what we need to hold down the
crook is double barreled revolver
law-one that not only permits the
Legitimate self protection of the law
abiding citizen, but one charged with
grape and canister punishment for the
crook found with concealed weapons.
First OF ALL make it mandatory that
punishment Is inflicted for violation of
your revolver law. Then, give us a
law that provides that no man ever
convicted Of theft, burglary or other
crime of violence, may carry irearm
or any other concealed weapon under
pain of ten-year states prison SEN
tence. Put that law on your statutes
and the crook who arms himself. ii
caught, automatically sentences him
self
For the laW-abiding citizen, make
the law easy. Leave the respectable
citizen unrestricted to procure arras
for house protection or to arm himself
when necessary. Compel him to reg-
lister his name and address and the
number of his revolver when he buys
land compel him to notify the police ii
for any reason he transfers his weapon
to another person. If he wants to carr
ry an arm, compel him to obtain IL
cense
Restrict him in any way you like,
but don't take away the one weapon
which may mean life to him.