The Washington times., 1920-08-29

With "gun play and highway rob-
berries becoming more frequent as the
lax fules now applying to the sale OF
weapons continue in force, members
OF the detective bureau and those In
the precincts declare the need for
more rigid laws becomes more ap-
parent each day.
A small" d street dealer In
weapons yesterday submitted his re-
George r. Wech. Such items as re-
volvers. black jacks. daggers, knives
and razors, are included. Thirty
pistols were sold during the month,
averaging one day.
About twenty stores in the city
| selling an equal number would bring
/ the monthly sale OF weapons to more
than 700. Seven black jacks were
| sold. Police ask, What legal reason
has q man for buying blackjack!
One six-inch dagger was purchased,
besides four knives and three razors.
These sales are reaching such pro-
portions, and the number Of men ar
rested each day so often are found
armed, that authorities say something
must be done.
James Smith. colored, was arrested
Thursday night at 232 Parker street
| northeast, by Policeman Ben F. Will
Jams, accused of shooting at Mary
Johnson. He told the police he had
no difficulty In buying the pistol. He
Is charged with assault with intent
to Kill.
Arbelia Pugh and John Taylor,
both colored, were arrested and
charged with holding up Arth j..
Oogjen. a Belgian, at the point OF a
gun. In the southwest, several nights
ago.
Hold-ups are becoming more fire.
quent. and police officials in the pre-
cincts say fe wknown characters go
about unarmed.
All Of this is due, they declare, to
| the laxity OF laws regarding weapon
| sales. The solution is agreed upon
| BY Major Gessford and Chief Grant.
of the Detective Bureau, who advo-
cate a law requiring all persons buy
ing revolvers to register with the
rolice for investigation before the
| sale is consummated. In other words.
| under their plan a permit must be
| obtained from the department before
anyone can purchase a weapon This
| would cut the sale OF firearms to
minimum. it is believed.
In buying a revolver. the purchaser
merely leaves name and address. The
are also is asked, and the purchaser
may give any name, address and age
he plesses.
"a person contemplating murder
can buy a revolver without difficulty"
said INSPECTOR Grant. "It should be
| stopped. Recently an insane maa
bought a pistol and killed an inno-
cent person at st. Elizabeth's Hos
pital.
by requiring purchasers to regis
ter with the police before obtaining
n weapon, tn ework OF the whole de-
partment in tracing crimes would be
facilitated. Mysteries often are solved
by tracing the number of the re-
! volver. Confessed slayers frequently
have said to me: I wish / could not
have bought that pistol
"a man kills in the heat OF passion
| and IL the purchase OF weapons could
be made more difficult, many trage-
dies would be prevented. We also
should have more severe punishment
| for gun toters, In New York IL Is a
| penitentiary ofense. 1t should he
made one here, with heavy hne
| also"
Major Gessford is to recommend in
| his report:
"suggested amendment to section
| s57. Code OF Law for the Disttict of
Columbia, relative to the sale OF fre-
| arms:
| provided, further, that no person,
firm or corporation may sell, lend,
exchange, rent. lease, give or trans
| fer in any manner. anw firearms or
| dangerous weapon covered In this
section, except upon written applica-
| tion on a form to be furnished by. the
police department., and that the de-
| livery OF weapons directly. by an
agent or through the mail. shall not
| be made in the case Of any such pur-
| chase, transfer, sale or gift for at
least fifteen t15) days after said ap-
plioation has been made on the print
ed form and receipted for at the head
quarters OF the metropolitan police OF
the District OF Columbia;
| Provided further. that the metro
politan police shall, and hereby are,