Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-24
Stop the Sale of Pistols!

For a long time The Star mas been
urging the enactment of a law for the
District of Columbia effectively prevent
Ing not merely the carrying, but the pro-
curing of deadly weapons save to those
who give guarantees of their proper use.
From time to time attempts at pistol
legislation to effect a reform have been
made, but with unsatisfactory results, it
never being seriously attempted to strike
at the source of the evil. Even yester-
day The Stars news columns carried a
statement to the effect that the Commits
sioners are considering a strong recon-
mendation to Congress for a new pistol
law. 1t CHANGED that in the same issue
was printed news of the attempt by a
degenerate youth in the Criminal Court
10 kill the prosecuting attorney and the
Judge Emphasis could not have been
more dramatically laid upon the fact that
the Districts present pistol regulation is
neglisfbly weak, and that even the pro-
posals now being considered are made
quate.
1t should be impossible in the District
of Columbia. as i'm all other Jurisdictions,
for any person to obtain in any manner
a weapon of this character without first
producing a permit issued by the court or
some other responsible authority, not
merely permit to carry such a weapon,
but permit to buy or otherwise obtain
one
Such law is the only possible safe
guard against private armament for pur-
poses of vengeance. The person who is
criminally inclined, who plots revenge.
who is inspired by jealousy to the point
Of contemplating assassination, is not
deferred in the slightest by pistol
carrying" penalty, however severe.
Such a one never takes into account
the comparatively trifling punishment
that may result from detection with
gun that he has obtained for the pur-
pose of committing a crime, the pen
atty for which may be death.
There will be no cure for this evil in
the District of Columbia through in
creasing the penalty for carrying an
unauthorized weapon. A concealed
weapons laws is practically dead letter
through the diff1culties Of its enforce
ment. In all but the rarest cases this
charge is brought as a result OF the
chance discovery of a weapon. 1t is
possible that a few people who are now
gun toters'' might, with increase OF
the penalty. be frightened into dis
carding their weapons. But ii il not
this class of people who commit the
crimes for the prevention of which an
adequate pistol law is required: Most
Of those who carry weapons habitually
are law-abiding people who arm them
selves through a mistaken notion of
manliness or an exaggerated sense Of
personal danger. They are not bad
men" in the sense that they are armed
with the design of killing.
1t is not the pistol carrying evil for
which a cure is needed. but the pistol
getting evil. Most pistol crimes are
the result of impulse, and with scores
Of places open at practically all hours
at which weapons can be obtained for
small sums there Is absolutely no bar
-ier to personal armament for purposes
Of crime. If every dealer in Washing
ton were aware that to sell weapon
to a person without the production Of
4 license to buy. the issuance of which
would require perhaps a day or two Of
Tormality, would expose him to a heavy
line or a Jail sentence, this criminal
traffic would be stopped and the crime
records of the District would be ma
terially lowered.
Will Congress give the District pro-
lection from murder and from accident
by writing such a law? In the light of
yesterdays assault upon the court Of
Justice there should be no further de-
lay.