The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-10-24
With Other Editors
ABOLISH THE REVOLVER.
,tFrom Chicago News.)

Ever since the invention of the pistol, 400
years ago, its sole purpose and that of its sue
cessor the revolver, was 10 kill human beings.
Outside of legally authorized war they have
undoubtedly caused the accidental or murder
Gus death Of a thousand for every life saved
by their justifable use. The possession of such
arms should be LIMITED to military and police
forces. For the hunter. the farmer, the ex-
plorer, and for Target practice, the larger IRE
arm affords quite sufficient service and protec-
ton, declares H. H. Windsor in Popular Me-
chanics. The concealed weapon is very sell
dom Of value to any but the lawbreaker. The
chief Of one of the largest city police forces
in this country says that more than 80 per cent
of the sales Of revolvers at the present time
ara to tho criminal classes.
ME revolver is really the weapon Of the
coward; without it the thug and holdup man
would Immediately lose his nerve in most cases,
and would soon abandon his profession Hold
ups in Offices are of daily occurrence because
one or two dashNin and cover the occupants
with guns" but if these same bandits tried
10 accomplish their purpose with rifles, crow
bars or clubs the results would be very differ
ent.
Some cities have tried to limit and con-
troll the sale Of small firearms, but the effort
is practically a failure because evasion is SO
easy. and then there is always the mail order
dealer sinding goods in plain packages to fc-
titious names. II the bandit is afraid to pur-
| chase from regular dealers or pawnbrokers in
town he has the shipment mailed to some
, small suburb few miles out, where both he
and the nature OF the goods he receives are
unknown and excite no comment.
| A Chicago business man, John R. Themp-
son, year ago advertised reward of 81 900
to anyone who would send>him a really good
reason (outside of military or police) why the
manufacture Of revolvers in this country
should be allowed to exist He has yet to re-
ceive single reason
The alarming increase in crime and murder
made possible by the possession Of revolvers
has become such national menace that moth.
ing short Of a federal law prohibiting their i'm
portation, manufacture, SALE or possession
(outside Of museums and military or police
can abats the evil. All possessors Of revolvers
should be required to turn them over to gov
eminent officials, and 4 heavy fine, or fine and
! 'Anpi iS""AAeus " NJ ]ne cAsf' snoulo tben De-
come effective. Criminals, fearing the strone
arp Of government. and finding it less easy te
evade penalties. would be less inclined te
ecarry arms and as fast as arrested would lose
what they had. We have too many laws now
but this one would produce widespread and
immediate good results without deriving any.
one Of necessary personal right.
Many publishers. recognizing the assistance
WHICH their columns were giving the crimina
class by advertising revolvers to be sent BY
mail, are now voluntarily refusing to accep
such advertising, although in many cases per
fectly reputable firms were included in the ban
Our government should itself manufacture wha
few eonceslabls firearms it permits to be uset
land prevent an others from doing 30 and from
importing