Evening star., 1914-11-28
Inspector r. B. Boyle of Po-
lice Department Would Bar
Them to Children.
FAVORS LAW RESTRICTING
SALE OF DEATH WEAPONS
Praises Bill Drafted by A. Leftwich
Sinclair-Board of Trade Commit.
tee Discusses Proposed Law.

Inspector L. s. Boyle OF the police
department. one of tho oldest officials
IN the service, thinks a law to bar the
sale of weapons such as was drafted b.
a Lettwlch Sinclair. chairman Of tn.
committee on law and legislation OF
the Chamber of Commerce, would ac-
complish much good
But he said. Il think II would be
well to specifically mention air rifles
such instruments are dangerous. more
especially when used in the city. ana
something should be done to reduc.
that danger"
Ihe inspector said he had called at
tsntion to the use Of air rifles by bows
number OF times and suggested thai
something should be done to keen sucl
instruments out of their hands ..C,er-
tainly." he said, the law should n,ir
stop to the practice of giving sucl,
tlhes 10 children. They make a poo.
christmas present for n child"
Need for Law Discussed.
The existing law in the District o.
Columbia governing the sale OF 1rs-
arms and other dangerous weapons anr
| the need for more stringent legtsls-
tion governing their sale were dis
| cussed by members of the COMMITTEES o.
! public order of the Board of Trade 1T
| a meeting held yesterday afternoon. T.
was the first meeting of the newly ap-
pointed committee of which Odell :
| Smith is chairman.
| The committee agreed that n thorouxn
! investigation of the present law and OF
! proposed Legislation should be mad.
! ana authorized the appointment of a
scpccmmlttee for this purpose. Chair
! man Smith appointed the subcomrnit-
tee as follows: Col. William z. Harvey
chairman; Maj. Richard Sylvester, Capt
Louis c. Wilson. J. Allen Riordau ana
Charles T ClaEett.
! The meeting yesterday was devoted
! lar12gely to informal discussion of ;t
, draft of a proposed law submitted to
the executive committee by Secrerary
, Chris j. Gockeler and subsequently re-
| f"rred to the committee on public order
/ At the request Of Chairman smith, the
following dealers in firearms attended
| the meeting to explain their views on
the existing law and proposed legisla =
tion: William +. Roberts, A. Walfor.
and AR. Brown. the latter representing
! f. i. May X co.
Window Display Held Dangerous.
. President Singleton of the Board OF
Trade, who is an ex-oiiicio member OF
the committee. spoke of the need OF
legislation prohibiting the display OF
deadly and dangerous weapons in show
windows, outside showcases and other
public places of like character. He said
the display Of weapons in this manner
. Is responsible for much violence and
crime.
/ Col. Harvey said hc did not favor the
enactment of law restricting the sale
of rifles He said every American citi-
zen should know how TO shoot a rifle
accurately in order that he may be o.
service to his country in times of war
J. Hamilton Smith said he did not
favor a law restricting the sale 81
weapons in the District of Columbia
on the ground that ii would not be ef-
| fective. There would be nothing to
prevent the prospective purchaser of =
, weapon from buying it from a mail
order house. he declared.