The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-07-08
Police Chiefs Favor Firearm Regulation
By International News Service

 New York, July 7-Enactment of stringent Federal law to curb the indiscrininate use of firearms as ao- vocated by Richard E. Enr1ght, New York Police Commissioners, is favored by police officials in all parts Of the country.
 Confiscation of every personally owned pistol was advocated by Com missioner Enrig1t and the sale of such weapons thereafter should, he believed be regulated by the Government. En- right also urged an eXorbitant tarq1r against imported firearms A symposium of views on Enr1ghtS suggested measures. as expressed by police officials in many cities, follows:
 Washington,-'In advocating the enactment of a Federal law to curb the indiscriminate use of firearms. Commissioner Enright, of the New York Police Department, Is doing real public service" declares Major Daniel Sullivan, superintendent of the Washington police. Anything that will tend to restrict the use of firearms by irresponsible parties should have the hearty support of the police au- thorities throughout the country. scribe to Commissioner Enrghts views,'' asserts Chief of Police l.. V: agairst the sale and possession of firearms should be nationwide in its scope. A heavy tariff to restrict the importation of firearms. and heavy prison sentences for persons convicted of illegally possessing firearms are fine suggestions"
 Kansas City, Mo..-"Commtssfone Enright is unquest19nably iright. says Acting Chief of Police Frank H. Anderson. When the sentence for carrying firearms is made as heavy as penalties for some other crimes and when it becomes more difficult for the prisoner to secure a speedy par don or parole for violation of law, firearms will be as scarce as dollars made in 1850"
 Seconds Enright's Views.
 Birmingham, Ala--Says Chief of Police Fred H. McDuff.
 "I second most heartily Commis- sioner Enrights idea that all person. ally owned firearms should be con- weapons thereafter should be regu- lated by drasic Federal law, as by doing this, the unlawful taking of hu- man life will be reduced to the minimum"
 Indianapolis, Ind.-No one not even a policeman-should be allowed to have a firearn lof any kind, Chief l'of Police Herman Rikhoff believes He would be even more drastic than Commissioner Enrgiht of New York. "Stop the manufacture of guns. conficate all others and the country will have gone a long way. toward preventing crime" he says Les Angeles.-''lf the Legislature | of very state would take it felony to illegally carry firearms at least 25 | per cent of the spontaneous crime in the United States would be elimint- ed" declares Grant Roberts in | charge of the Los Angeles Detecv:. {, | Bureau.
 St Louis.-''Unquestio a good | idea" said Philip H. Brockman, president of the local Board of Police | Commissioners, when told of the stringent firearms measures advocated | by Police Commissioner Enright of
 seattle-says Chief of Police VII | liam B. Severyns:
 There is no doubt but that Com missioner Enright has the right idea re=arding the confiscat'on and pro- hibition or sale of pistols.
 SpIfngfield. In-''The World War l created a desire to use them say. l c. A. Schryver. head of the local Pc | lice Bureau of Identification. Com | missioner FInright is right in his sug- a law to confiscate all pistols, place an eNorhitant' tariff on inlportet, suns and levy a heavy tax aga Inst 1 dealers
 | Views of Others. | Views expressed by police officials who attended the recent San Fran CISCO convention of the international Association of Chiefs of Police to1- low:
 Colonel R F. Foote State Com missioner of Public Safety and Chiet of State Police. Massachusetts: 1 Make it impossible for persons to purchase firearms without licenses | issued by proper authorities and l muon of today's crime will be elim :n. ated. State and Federal lawmakers should frame statues working toward this end.
 The strAcllest regulations should
 be enacted against persons who car. 1 ry concealed weapons If arms the tools of the criminal, trade. wer. impossible to procure, present crime waves would be reduced to an incon sequential minimum"
 Philip T. Smith, Chief of Police | New Haven, Connecticut:
 T would like to see the Govern
 ment pass a law which would make i
 a felony, subject to a heavy fine anC 1 Imprisonment, for unauthorized per sons to have firearms m their DOS
 session. Passage of such a measur,
 is of paramount importance in ocp ing with Crime.'
 James Patrick Chief of Police
 San Diego:
 Laws prohibiting everyone iron
 carrying firearms should be passed ' by hoth State and Federal Govern ments. Hold-upS~by amateurs and or ] done away with
 l Daniel J. O'Brien- Chief of Police San Francisco:
 "A heavy taxe on firearms and tn, 1 framing of an eXorbitant tariff on i'm
 ported weapons are badly needed il
 America to-day to cope with crime Persons convicted of robbery wiA
 guns should receive heavy priso1 | sentences
 Be Municipal ordinances regulatin: the sale of arms are entirely made qGate. We need and should hay, stringent State and Federal laws or
 this subject