The New York herald., 1920-12-24
RED TAPE TIES UP
HYLAN'S ARM CALL
Private Citizens, Accepting In
vitation to Buy Revolvers,
Encounter Big Snag.
$4,000 ON DELAYED LIST
Banks and Jewellers Chief
Buyers Of Guns-Police
Not Cooperating.
$4,000 ON DELAYED LIST

Mayor Hylan's invitation to the citi-
zens of New York to arm themselves
with revolvers and cooperate with the
police in suppressing the crime wave
has resulted in a rush for permits, but
1t has not resulted in very many more
persons than before carrying re-
volvers, because of the red tape with
which the Police Department has sur
rounded the issuance of permits to
possess firearms. There are now more
than $4,000 applications for permits on
file at Police Headquarters-repre
ing that many persons who want to
carry or have revolvers in their homes
but at the rate the department has
granted permits in the past it will be
many months before they are dis
posed Of
This red tape is the string tied to
Mayor Hylan's invitation. The bureau
issuing the permits has required from
ten days to a month to investigate the
character OF the applicant before is
suing a permit. 1t took this much
time when the applications from those
who wished to carry revolvers did not
exceed 300 a month. 1t was said yes
terday at headquarters that the ma
jority of the $4,000 applications have
been filed since the Mayor issued his
sweeping invitation, but there is small
likelihood of any of them, at least any
of those filed by private citizens and
ordinary householders. being disposed
OF for some time.
Some retail dealers in firearms stated
yesterday that they had noticed an in
crease in the number of revolvers pur-
| chased recently, but that virtually all
of these had been purchased for bank
and jewelry concern employees. whose
applications for permits. by Commis-
sioner Enright's order. were granted
without the usual delay. Few, IL any.
revolvers have been sold, the dealers
say. to individuals VINO applied Tor
permits since the Mayor issued his in
vitation three days ago.
1--WE should say that there has been
a 50 per cent. increase in the number
Of revolvers purchased since the Hyian
announcement" said Schoverling, DAILY
& Gales, 302 Broadway. practically
all of these purchases have been made
bv representatives Of banks and jew
elry concerns. The public at large
have not been customers. OF course
under the Sullivan law. revolvers are
sold only to persons carrying permit.
I'VE have sold more revolvers during
the last three days than ever before IN
our history" it was said at Abercromoie
& Fitch's, Forty-fifth street and Madison
avenue. "Our stock has been practically
exhausted. Few of these sales were
made 10 private citizens. however. Most
of them were to business firms, wnich
bought from two 10 dozen revolvers
each to arm their ernployees-banks ana
jeweiry concerns. mostly. Their de-
mands during the last week doubled our
normal sales for any week"
A so per cent increase in sales was
also reported by the II. d Folsom Arms
Company, 314 Broadway. another large
retail establishment At Won Lengerke
& Detrnoid's, 414 Madison avenue. il
was eaid that the increase in sales was
perceptible and that many Inquiries had
come from private citizens.
! At Baker. Murray & Imbrie's. 81
] Chambers street. no increase in the nor
NAL amount Of sales had been noticed
and at Kirkland Brothers, 80 Chambers
street. only a slight" increase.