Pueblo chieftain., 1921-06-27
By Frederic ]. Haskin.

Washington, D. c., June GA GER
tain bank. alarmed by the large num-
ber of successful bank robberies that
have been committed in this country
recently. has supplied all OF Its en-
ployes with automatic pistols, set up
a target range in its basement, and
made pistol practice regular insu-
tuition. Ono OF its woman clerks has
attained an expert proficiency in
short time.
This bank is one OF many organiza-
tons that have taken the protection
of their property into their own hands.
as 1t has become more and more clear
that most OF the American police sye-
TENS arc not equal to the task. The
United States government is one OF
these organizations. Tho post office
department especially has invested
heavily in automatic .notsuns and pis-
tolls and has made target practice a
part OF its routine.
For organizations TO prepare to de-
fend their property in this way seems
to be generally considered a wise and
iustlfiable move: but there Is a strong
movement on foot to deny the same
right to the citizen. Everywhere gun
totinr'' laws are being discussed, and
the movement to lcgislatc guns out OF
existence seems to have reached It's
climax in the Federal measure VIII! eli
proposes TO bar small arms from IN
tcrstatc commerce.
This measure, which was discussed
In a previous Haskin Letter. would
have the effect OF making IL extremely
difficult for reputable citizen to pur-
chase pistol for self-dcfcnso without
breaking the law. and II would also
mako such arms much moro oxpen-
sive. The theory Is that II would
make 1t equally difficult for the
criminal to arm himself.
- nf that
II would accomplish just the opposite
o, Its intention. They cay that the
ycgg or gunman. who finds a gun In
d!spcnsablc to his business. would al
ways manage to get one by hook or
crook. just AS he now manages to sc,
eoeains; liquor. opium. and other con-
,raband goods. II Is the reputable
citizen. eager to obey tho Law, who
would be disarmcd. The criminals
would be given . monopoly OF Arma-
mcnt.
what The Consultation ssys
Tho coustiiutionality OF this law has
also been questioned. as the Consutu-
ton provides that tho right of tho
people to keep and bear arms shall
not be infringed."
Opponents of pistol prohibition now
bring up n substitute, which is not
new. but has a special interest at this
time. When Mayor Gaynor was shot
oy an assassin few years ago.
Judge George &. Holt made an able
address on the subject of arms. AMI
tho right to carry them. He discussed
the advirabillty Of pistol prohibition
and decided that IL was impracticablc.
He advised that instead "A law should
be passed which would place tho sell
Ing Of small arms in the control OF
competent boards everywhere.
Under such a system. IL you desired
TO own n weapon You would appear
before the board and apply for a
license. jus; tho samo as you do now
when you want TO operate a motor
car. You would have to demonstrate
that You knew how to operate tho
gun, Just as you now have to demon
strato that you know how to operate
a car. You would very likely under
Eo brief physical exariins ton, and
would have to prove that you had no
criminal record and were sane BY
the signatures Of reputable persons
YOU would establish your reputabiiity.
/: is argued that such law would
40 Just as much to keep arms away
from the criminal class as would tho
measure preventing tho interstate
trade In arms. That Is. IL would pre-
vent a criminal from going into n
reputable store and purchasing such
an arm. II would be impossible to buy
At arm from a reputable dealer with
Out presenting license from inc
board Storekeepers would obey this
| law nunctliously. as they obey any
law regulating the sale Of firearms.
because they have everything to lose
and nothing to gain by disohedience.
In either case the yerE would have
to - to the sun bootlegzsr for his gun
ard in either case, in all prohs hiiity,
he would get H..
This licensing law would have tho
great advantage, II is claimed. that
It would enable the responsible citi-
sen. who knows how to use gun, to
get one for self defense. " would no,
give all tho advantage to tho criminal
as would the gun prohibition. say the
critics of that measure. Furthermore,
the licensing system would tend 10
reduce the great number of weapons
which arc now purchased nv persor-
who do not know how TO operAe them
and who cause most of the numerous