The Tupelo journal., 1915-09-24
Friday, September "a, 1915
TO REDUCE CRIMINAL HoMl-
ClDES

During the last session of con-
gress, Senator Shields. of Ten
nessee, introduced a bill which
seeks to lessen the opportunities
Of those disposed to take human
life. Senator Shields measure
would forbid the transportation
through the mail or by common
carrier of any weapon smaller
than the weapons employed in
the regular army. These weapons
are of such size and character
that they cannot be concealed
about the person. The %constltu-
tional right to bear arms in de-
Tense of ones person and prop
erty does not make reference to
the size or character of the arms
to be borne. This privilege is a
right that has been abused more
than any other. and Senator
Shields could possibly have serv-
ed his country better had he gone
to the root Of the evil and sought
to withdraw this right by consti-
tutional amendment, if need be.
Possibly this did not occur to
him, but nevertheless, he is on
the right track and his bill should
receive the support of every
member of congress.
Senator Shields bill is as fol-
lows:
"Section l.. That it shall be unlawful
for any person or corporation to deliver,
or cause to be delivered, to any COM
mon carrier, to deposit in the mails
of the United States, to be carried
from any state or territory of the
United States or, the District of Column
bia to another state or territory of the
Fla
United States or from any state or
territory to the District of Columbia
for the purpose of sale, or in the per-
Torrance of a contract of sale, a pistol,
revolver or other firearm of like form,
size or description, except those which
for the time being have been adopted
and are commonly used in the army
and navy of the United States, under
rules and regulations of the constituted
authorities of the departments OF war
and navy.
"Sec. 2. That it shall be- unlawful
for any person or corporation engaged
in the business of q common carrier IN
interstate to receive for
TRANSPORTATION or to transport from any
state or the District of Columbia to
another state or from a state to the
District of Columbia, a pistol, revolver
or other firearms of like form and size
described in the first section of this act.
"Sec. 3. That any person or corpo-
ration or their agents or employees vio-
lating any of the provisions of this act
shall be deemed guilty of a m~isdemeanor
and the offending party fined not less
than 500 nor more than $500, and, if a
person, imprisoned not less than 80
days nor more than six months, in the
discretion of the court
Under present conditions hui
man life is entirely too cheap.
This condition is largely due to
the fact that too many people
carry deadly weapons. In the
heat of passion the temptation is
great to reap vengeance if the
means is at hand, and the hip
pocket is too frequently supplied
with this means.
The states seem powerless to
prevent the importation of deadly
weapons and our laws against
carrying them are practically
dead letters. The statutes seek
to make it difficult for the would
be pistol toter to get his gun and
with this federal statute in OPP
GRAFTON the evil of carrying con-
cealed weapons would be grad
ually lessened. The measure is
aimed in the right direction and
should become a law.