Evening star., 1921-03-06

ton into the. District in Interstate
commerce.
Congress unqueStionably has the
power to establish reasonable regu-
lations upon the subject. to the end
that such weapons may not be borne
and used in such manner as to Jeo-
pardiZe the public peace and safety !
and. with that end in view, may regu-
late their carrying and use to the
extent that they be kept out of the
hands of the lawleSS and lrreSponSi-
BILE.
The present law is vague and un-
certain, and wholly inadequate. The
object of any Legislation on the sub
ject should be to keep weapons out of
the hands of the criminals and the
reckless, without denying to the law
abiding citizens the right to use
them for the protection of person and
property.
Prom my experience in the trial
of cases arising under the present
law. | am of the opinion that law
containing substantially the follow
ing provisions would meet the con-
ditionS here as near as may be,
Suggested Regulations.
The provisions outlined by Judge
Hardison included:
Section 1. 1t shall be unlawful for
any person within the District of
Columbia to carry concealed upon or
about his person any deadly or
dangerous weapon other than an
ordinary pocket knife. 1t is pro
vided. however, that members oil me
military forces the police. other of
ficials Of the government and per-
sons to whom permits have been IS
sued permitting the carrying OF arms
shall be exempt.
Section , No person shall carry
openly any deadly weapon Tor the
purpose Of using it unlawfully-
Section ). No person shall carry
any deadly or dangerous weapon.
either concealed or openly in any
motor or horse drawn vehicle Again
it is provided that thus Shal not
apply to officers OF the law or the
military. or to sportsmen going hunt
ing. or taking their weapons to have
them repaired.
Section A. No person convicted OF
a felony shall. without special writ
ten permit, be allowed to own any
deadly weapon, other than a razor
for shaving or ordinary pocket knife.
Penalty for violating this section
shall be Imprisonment from two to
five years.
Section J. Any person having in
his possession any deadly or danger
Gus weapon other than an ordinary
pocket knife at the time of the COM
of felony shall be imprisoned 1or
from two to five years.
Section g. Any person dealing IN
deadly or dangerous weapons IN the
District must obtain from the District
Commissioners "A special license. the fee
for which shall be Sl00 d year. Deal
.rS must keep a record OF all sales
of such weapons. Dealers are pro-
hibited from selling such weapons
to any child under eighteen years
of age or to any person convicted or
a felony. without written permit
from the superintendent of police.
Any person making a false statement
in purchasing a deadly weapon shall
be punished by Imprisonment for
from two to five years. No police
officer, member of the military
forces. etc. shall be permitted to lend,
give or sell any deadly weapon to
another person without special per-
mission from the superintendent of
police.
Registering of Weapons.
Section = Within sixty days after
the passage of this act, every person
in the District owning deadly
weapon, other than police officers.
etc. must list II with the police de-
partment.
Section 3. The superintendent of
police shall have power to issue a
permit in writing to any person. upon
good cause b@inE shown. to carry
concealed a deadly weapon for a
period of not more than a year.
Section 8. If any person shall max e
affidavit before Il United States COM
missioner or any judge Of a court in
the District that he has reasonable
grounds 10 believe that any person
within the District possesses or is
using any dangerous weapon in vio-
lation of this act. search warrants
may be issued
Section 10 A failure to comply
with any provision of the act shall
create violation of thu same. Any
violation Of tn" act for which no
other penalty is provided shall be
punished by a fine of not less than
$50 nor more than 81 900. or by i'm
prisonment Of not more than Il year,
and for n second offeuSe. by nprs-
onment for not less than one nor more
than five years.