The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-12-04
ABOLISH THE REMOVER.
Ninety Per Cent of Those Sold Go to
Criminals

Ever since the invention of the pistol
400 years ago its sole purpose and that
of its successor, the revolver, was to kill
human beings Outside of legally au-
thorized war, they have undoubtedly
caused the accidental or murderous death
of a thousand for every life saved by
their justlfiable use. The possession of
such arms should be limited to military
and police forces. For the hunters, the
farmer, the explorer, and for target
sufficient service and protection. The
concealed weapon is very seldom 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 reyolyers ut the
present time are to the criminal classes.
The revolver is really the weapon of
/ the coward; without 1t the thug and
hOidup man would immediately lose his
nerve in most cases, and would soon
abandon his profession. HOldups IN
offices are of daily occurrence because
pants with gums" but if these same
bandits tried to accomplish their purpose
with rifles, croWbars, or clubs, the results
would be vastly different.
Some cities have tried to limit and
control 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 sending
goods in plain packages to fictitious
names. If the bandit Is afraid to pur-
chase from Regular dealers or pawn
brokers 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 ex-
cite no Comment.
4 Chicago business man, John L.
| Thompson, Il year ago advertised a re-
ward of $1,000 to anyone who would
I, frr9 In
of military or policel why the manufae-
ture of revolvers in this country should
! be allowed to exist. He has yet to re-
ceive a single convincing reason
The alarming increase in crime and
murder made possible by the possession
/ of revolyers, has become such national
menace that nothing short of n federal
law prohibiting their Importation, man
! ufacture. sale. or possession (outSlde OF
museums, and military or police can
abatc the evil. Al possessorS of reyOl-
vers should be required to turn them
/ over to government officials. and heavy
/ fine, or fine and Imprisonment to tit the
| case should then become effective. Grim
| mails, fearing the strong arm of govern
| menf and finding it less easy to evade
I penalties, would be less inclined to carry
arms, and as fast as arrested would lose
/ now, but this is one more tht would pro-
/ duce widespread and immediate good re-
i suits, without depriving anyone of a
necessary personal right.
| Many publishers, recognizing the as
sistance which their columns were giving
the criminal class by advertising revol-
| yerS TO be sent by mail are now volun-
tarily refusing to accept such advertis-
| ing. although in many eases perfectly
reputable firms were included in the ban.
/ This magazine adopted such policy
months ago. Our government should it
u
! firearms il permits to be used, and pre-
D vent all others from doing so, and from
| importng.-H. III. Windsor in Popular
| Mechanics Magazine.