Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-12
POLICE WISH CURB
ON F|REARM SALES
Recent Shooting in Hospital
Shows Need of Rigid
Laws, Experts Say.

Legislation which would give the
strictly sales of firearms of all kinds
is heartily favored by Mai. Gessford,
superintendent of police. and In
spector Clifford L. Grant, chief of de-
tectives. The late Maj. Raymond w.
Pullman also recommended such
enactment.
Purchase of pistol by Chester C.
Rounds, inmate of st. Elizabeth'S
Hospital and used in the wounding Of
Charles A. Rogers, is not the first in
stance of an insane man from the
government institution walking into
A store and purchasing a pistol" said
Inspector Grant to Star reporter.
Less than two years ago such a
patient, an Army officer, made pur-
chase and caused much uneasiness
and excitement in local hotel. That
he did not use the weapon and take
human life was only because hotel
employees and members of the police
force humored him until he could be
captured and returned to the hospital.
Need for Law Shown.
TN that instance" the inspector
stated. 1.-The man remained in hotel
room all night, and it was necessary
to keep watch over him. Early in the
morning Detectives Mullen. OBrien
and Kelly succeeded in having him
reach over the door to settle the bill
for his room. having previously in
duced him to put his pistol where he
could not use it. 1t was when he
handed the money through the open
transom that his hands were grabbed
and the detectives took him into GUS
tody.
THAT man has since died." the in
spector added. These two instances
sufficient
person of the necessity for safe
guarding sales of weapons.
The Rogers shooting brings to
mind other instances in which in
sane persons purchased firearms in
the District of Columbia and wounded
others or greatly alarmed them," said
the chief of detectives.
Would Investigate Each Case.
Several irresponsible persons have
in the past purchased firearms and
imm ediately took the life of some one
or injured them severely.
IF we had a law requiring each
dealer to inform US the name and
address of the party who desired to
purchase firearms before said sale
was allowed to be made, and let the
police investigate the character and
responsibility of the party desiring
to purchase the f1rearm. it would pre-
vent persons from buying dangerous
that they might have in their mind
the desire to go out and kill.
1.-The delay caused by the investi-
cation of the applicant would give
great number of persons bent upon
crime time to think over what they
are about to do and would prevent
persons criminally inclined from
being allowed to purchase same and
carry out their intent.
"A law should be enacted which
would allow no person to purchase
firearm in the community without the
dealer securing his proper name and
address and the reason given for the
purchase of the same and referring
it to the police department to be
passed upon by them as to whether or
not the person desiring to purchase
said firearm is one of good char
acter and a desirable person.
Jail and Fines Urged.
"a law should also be enacted
making a penalty for any one found
with a loaded firearm in his posses
sion, excepting officials who are au
thorized by law to have them, and
who. upon conviction, should be sub
jected to a penalty of serving not
less than five years in the penitentiary
and from 1000 to $1,000 fine or both.
IF law of this kind were adopted
relative to the purchase of firearms
and the carrying of weapons. it would
rid this community of lot of per-
weapon which they draw upon the
slightest pretext, and for no valid
reason other than to let you know
that they are 'heeled.' as they term it,
1T would cause less trouble every
where and IT'S good effect would be
noted very shortly after it became a
law"