Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-25
Senator's Views on Remedy to
Reach Weapon-Carrying
in District Differ,
HEADS OF DISTRICT
FOR DRASTIC STEPS
Considering Prohibitive Legislation
Suggested by Maj. Sylvester in
a Bill in 1909.


incentives to crime that I know Of" de-
clared Senator Works of California to-
day when asked whether he would favor
making the law against carrying conceal
ed weapons in the District of Columbia
more stringent.
Il don't care how far you go in max
ing the law stringent said Senator
Works. Just so you go far enough"
1t was suggested to the senator from
California that it might be possible to
make a law prohibiting the sale of fire.
arms to any person in the District unless
that person had first obtained permit
from the District authorities to make
such a purchase.
That might prove a good plan," was
his comment.
Il have never carried a weapon of any
kind since / left the army said Senator
Works. who served in the army during
the civil war. Senator Works is MEM
Der of the Senate District committee, and
has taken a keen interest in matters af-
fecting the capital.
No Remedy in Legislation.
Senator John Walter Smith of Mary
land. chairman of the District committee.
when asked what he thought of the pres
ent l,~w relating to carrying weapons in
the District, and whether he thought it
should be made more stringent, replied
that he would have to look up the law
on the subject before expressing an Opin-
ion.
Senator Gallinger of New Hampshire.
former chairman of the Senate District
committee, declared that he did not be-
lieve that matters could be remedied by
Loo lott 10 a
present law, which prohibits the carry
ing of concealed weapons in the District,
and said that he thought 1t sufficiently
stringent If effectively enforced. He
pointed out that fine Of from $50 to
$500 is provided as a punishment for any
one breaking the law. and also a years
Imprisonment If the court so rules.
II am not opposed to making the law
as stringent as possible. OF course. said
Senator Gallinger. But 1 really do not
think that further legislation on this sub
ject will accomplish any good.
Can Buy Gun Easily.
IF a man wants gun he can easily
buy one in some other city and have 1t
shipped to him by parcel post. or he
could give as an excuse, when asking for
a permit to buy in the District of Column
bia that he wishes to shoot rabbits when
in reality he is going cunning for a man.
The law prohibits the sale of firearms
to minors in the District now, yet the
court here Monday was only eighteen
years old. How did he get his revolver?
I believe that he should be punished to
the extent of the law. BY such punish
ments l think that more can be done to
prevent the misuse of firearms in this
city than by enacting new laws"
Senator Kenyon of Iowa, who is men,
ber of the District committee. said tina I
he. too, would have to look up the law
governing the carrying of weapons in the
opinion as to what should be done to bet
ter conditions here.
Local Action Expected.
Drastic steps may be taken by the
District Commiss oners to put an end to
the ''gun-toting'' habit in the District of
Columbia and reduce the number of
deaths and accidents due to careless and
unlawful handling Of firearms and dan
gerous weapons.
The District heads already are on rec
ord as favoring the Sims bill. which
would make the act of carrying a con-
cealed weapon felony, with a three
year Imprisonment term the maximum
penalty provided. Now, the Commission
ers are considering the advisability of
recommending a law that will prevent
any person from buying, selling. borrow
ing or giving a deadly weapon withOu.
obtaining a license to do so from fhe
assessor of the District.
Legislation of this character, sug-
gested by Maj. Richard Sylvester. su-
perintendent of police. was urged upon
Congress by the Commissioners in 1909.
1t is the opinion of Maj. Sylvester that
such a law is still desirable. and there
is a possibility that it again will be
recommended.
Commissioners Discuss Matter.
Commissioners Rudolph and Harding
yesterday discussed the matter of more
effectively regulating the sale of fire.
arms and dangerous weapons. and
again considered the question today.
There is some doubt in the minds of
law requiring person to obtain a per-
NIT for the purchase of weapon
would be practicable. and for that rea-
son the situation is being gone into
carefully.
The bill recommended in 1909 provided
that it should be unlawful for any per-
son in the District to purchase, SELL loan,
exchange, give, borrow or receive any
deadly weapon without license to do so
from the assessor. after a formal appli-
cation had been made to that official, Civ
ing the name. age. sex. color, residence
and occupation Of the application and the
purpose for which the weapon is desired.
1t further provided that the application
should be forwarded by the assessor to
the major and superintendent of police
for investigation and report.
Any person violating any provision of
the act, 1t was stipulated. should be pun
ished by fine OF not more than 500 for
each day during which said violation may
continue or be imprisoned in the Dis
trict jail for a period of not to exceed
one year, or by both such fine and i'm
prisonment
In his report to the Commissioners in
which he urged this law, Maj. Sylvester
said:
1T is not believed that the carrying of
concealed weapons can be effectually
stopped by the enactment OF any law. but
the licensing of the one who may sell,
under penalties for violation, and the IL
censing of the one who buys, under other
penalties for violation, should reduce the
dangerous practice to minimum"