The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-12-29
Letters to the
Editor
DO NOT GIVE THUGS
ANY Gun ADVANTAGE

ANY Gun ADVANTAGE
Editor The STAR These lines are
submitted as a plea for sensible
and practical gun laws. as opposed
10 the rather radical laws on this
subject 20 be found on the books
~ some OF our states. and are not
In any sense intended 90 Justify
the possession Of pistols or rcvolvers
by criminals, nor 10 defend or vlndl.
cate the habituai "Euntoter.
on the front page Of The Star
81 December nth appeared an sdi-
toftal riEhtfuiiy protesting against
the laxity Of certain courts ~
handling tho cases OF appr.hended
criminals found 20 be Ia possession
OF concealed weapons.
However. the makers 81 our laws
NJ well as those appointed 20 en-.
force them should not lose sight Of
the fact that pistols and revoivers
are used 20 a considerable extent by
honest, law-ablding citizens az n
means Of recreation ard legitimate
sport To 10 word or interpret the
law as TO prohibit these citizens
from carrying their fayorite target
pistols to and from their shooting
club. or on n day afield. would be
an ostenEibie injustice Another
thirs that should not be Lost sight
n IL the night 81 every American
citizen TO protect his home and his
family. These perfectly honorable
Lses % firearms BY the respectable
members Of the community are too
often overlooked IN the making Of
laws and ordinances intended 10 dis-
arm the crook.
Can law disarrn orooksf Ap.
parenuy. no. II II ridiculous 20
think that men depraved enough 20
disobcy the greater laws Thou
shalt not Nil" and Thou shalt not
steal" VIII hesitate 20 break a don
en- laws that ray Don't pack ar
tnlery." Whom do such laws dis
ARM Only law abiding citizens. you
may be sure. And therein they AZ
ford protection 20 the crook. who
viii always be armed 10 long as he
IL with us regardless Of Laws and
restrictions. II he canno, buy a
gun. he viii steal one, or failing In
tina, he can make one.
Permit me 10 quote the following
from the editorial above mentioned.
Guns allowed TO drift into the
hands OF irresponsible persons are
the prime cause Of this crime way.
that IL sweeping Seattle and the en-.
tho nation. Officials admit this.
Records prove II. Experisnoe con.
firms a. II 10 the GUN that
makes the hoidup. Without these
guns. highway robbery would be
nearly nonexistcnt"
Was highway robbery nearly non.
existent prior 70 the invention OF
firsarmsf Not n we are TO believe
The historical and legendary stories
handed down 10 us. Personally.
aitho having no desire 20 be robbed
would much rather be held up
in the modern way by being threat
ensd with a pistol. than by the
method IN vogue prior 20 the ad
vent Of firearms. which was 20
ihoroly hea, Up and perhaps kan the
victim preliminary 20 the robbery.
have read within the past few
days that the crime wave which l.
sweeping over the country IN no
where al great m in New York and
Chicago. And this In spite Of the
fact tsai IN New York there has
been for several years . most drss
tic law In effect tthe Sullivan iawl
prohibiting not only the carryinr
bu, even the porsession OF revoiyert
and pistols. This does not seem &c
bear out the editorial statement
Records prove H. Experiences con
firm. ia
To summarize In order TO de
arm the law abiding citiEen ~ b
only necssrary 20 pass Law. but
20 disarm the crook you must flrs'
catch him. and then he remain
disarmed only while you hold ont
him. Therefore. II would appeai
tha, the gun laws would he really
more practical. and serve their real
purpose beet. n worded 30 as not e.
interfere with weil-intentioned Amer
ican sportNmsn. target shooters and
home defenders. but made doubls
severe on known criminals and sus
piclous characters when caught
The eurcsf way To Lesson any
crime wave" Ia 10 do everything
possible TO improve economic con.
ditions and 20 solve the problems
OF unemployment. And as for the