The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-12-18

And this despttr tho evident ct
coft Of the city ordinance 20 restrict
the xaie Of weapons IA persons not
having license from the police de.
partment
ORDINANCES 1890
u A I.AU6ilARl.E JOKE
Ordinance $500 Is supposed 90 req.
ulase the sale % weapons here. Hut
the Joker in II IL palpahie and a.
hnghahle as jokes usually are.
After saying that Il shall b. uniaw-
nii for any ~person. dealer or ccrpcr.
nation to .'seil or give away within
the city any concealed weapon with
outsa permit. the ordinance in section
5 solelnniy declares
Provided this section shan not ap-
ply 10 sales made Of such articles
which are 10 be delivered or fur.
nizhcd outside tho city OF Seattle
80 the crooks get their guns with.
out breaking any law. And tho deal
cra sell them. wholly within the law.
Il - for this reason that only a per
ccntare Of tho guns scld here arr
ever registered at police station.
Guns are sold prcm.scuously be-
tween private individuals In the city.
Many men make their living by no
cher way than selling guns To those
who want thcni--lwtthout asking
oDcstzons This IL n difficult trade
q cheek. but II guns we're not al.
tDwed to come into circulation In H.
ucit channels. this tradc soon would
~ stopped
General belief 10 the contrary. per.
nunai exchange % a gun ID against
city ordinance 1870.
The ordinance specifically states
that -it shall BE- unlawful for any
person. etc. to sell or give away any
eun. etc.
Guns are brought In here from 9th.
- states By men who arr not able 10
1T permits. This method Is simple.
ma there Il no Inv against H.
IhousAnds OF guns wcre stolen
1rum army camps during the war.
Gimp Lewis alone had NJ least 1000
p1ueDle sfxlen.
I11s q n national condition. how
evxx and cannot b. r~medicd now.
~ . purely local phase Of the gun
! situation here. city council records
nnow that $4,000 worth OF guns seiz.
- b. The city during the general
neriks have disappeared.
ma0X 10 BUY WITHOUT
11zuT IN CHEAP SHOPS
Policemen whisper II about guard
o11y that II Is not 40 very difficult
- yak into a cheap gun dealers
eeop and purchase a gun without q
tormtt.
THE small dealers are cheating
~ this Law. and II II nearly irnpos-
Gose to stop them under present stat.
u1es.~ : high police official said
TIE gunmzn eefs his weapon In
f9ur ways. generally: di BY order
~ u Especially by mail from out.
- the city: rl by buying II from n
e4cap dealer who disrcgards the H.
eenee law; 90 by purchasing Il per.
Gohally on the street. - a. by bring.
M Il In from another state.
The Stars suggestion Of a state
sun registration law Is approved BY
oernhAf the alarming gun situation
sP.
We need law that win trace the
% from the factory tn its ultimate
pssessor,- Police Chief WIN II. Scar.
~ says. Evsry run In the state
Gouid be registered In the,same way
at autos are. Autos arc rcgisfcr-
for revenue. Guns should be reg
aered for protection
This law should BE- national
. ords Detective Captain Charles f..
1tnnanL But II we can make II a
a1e law. something win be accom-.
D1ished at least"
"a registration law IN needed bad
~ declares Deputy Prosecutor John
~ Carmody. dean OF the couuty's
criminal deputies. III the registra-
tkDn law IL not too cumbersome. II
should be enacted as soon as posi-.
h)e."
Lieut.. J. c. wickman. Of the pawn
sop detail. who has charge OF the
Police supervision Of the sale Of guns
here. liz especially hostile to the law
allowing a man outside the city 10
hay gun without license.
e"It renders the law nearly useless, ("
G,ys Lieut.. wickman. ~ state reg.
f1frafion law is the check that will
sod the traffic and keep the guns
Within control. as far as is mortaIly
possible. believe my office could
tMo<frx stxrH re~fas -, ftox, xsxffh TO-.