The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1922-10-24
PISTOLS.
From the Early County News.

From the Early County news
Having just completed sitting with the
Early county grand jury, the editor OF the
Early County News is ready to pass on to
our national law makers some pointed re-
marks on pistols from two OF our con-
temporares:
Whisky got to be a menace to society;
1t was taking too many human lives and
causing so much trouble until it was out
lawed; but the pistol remained for the same
purpose.
The Dawson News truthfully says:
Most murders are committed with
one-handed guns commonly called plS
tolls Very seldom goes out to
steal and murder with shotgun or
rifle. ContraryWise, most game hunters
use the shotgun and rifle and not the
pistol, consequently there can be no ar
gument against the suppression OF the
one-handed gun from a sportsman point
of view Their indiSCriminate sale to I'M
known. Irresponsible and criminally in
clined persons should be stopped by law
There can be no argument against the
suppression of the pistol from any point OF
view. Thousands OF people drank whisky who
did not get drunk and who did not make
themselves obnoxious, and who did not want
to kill their fellow man, but there were
few who did get drunk, there were a few
who wanted to fight there were a few who
wanted to kill, and there were few who
made themselves obnoxious by drinking.
AS far as l can see the same argument
against whisky should hold against the ps-
toll When man was drunk others would
know it and avoid him. II a man has pis-
toll hidden on his person Others do not
know it and can not avoid him, The pistol,
therefore, is more dangerous and treacher-
Gus than is whisky.
Why congress does not pass a law and
prohibit the importation and manufacture OF
pistols | can not see, except the fact that
i. will stop the pistol manufacturers from
making money.
If congress was really and truly trying to
represent the whole people OF the whole
country such law would long ago nave
been passed.
A pistol is not made to be used by sports
man, as mentioned by the Dawson editor
If sportsman was to go out hunting armed
with nothing but a pistol he would quickly
be taken up and sent to Milledgeville, where
he ought to be. Pistols are made for only
one purpose, and that one purpose is to take
the life of some human being!
1t has been argued | think without force
and merit, that pistols should be permitted
on account sof police officers, sherltfs and
those who guard and handle convlcts | can
not see the force or merit i'll such contention
If there was not a pistol in the country
the police would need no pistols, the sheriffs
would need no pistols and the convict guard
has nothing else to do but carry gun
a shotgun-or a two-handed gun, as The
Dawson News distinguishes the gun and the
pistol.
A large per cent, in fact nearly ALL of the
homicides in this country are caused by the
deadly pistol. When a man puts pistol in
his pocket it is prima facie evidence to
thinking mind that shas malice in his heart
and he carries the pistol by reason of the
existence of some form of maice-else he is
feather-legged coward to commence with
The states of the union are helpless. For
the legislature of the state to pass a law
making pistols contraband and prohibit their
being brought into the state could not be
enforced because such a law would affect in
terstate commerce and, furthermore, they
would be brought in from other states any
way. The only thing that the state could do
to protect itself from the menace OF the p1s-
tol would be to pass law making the pos
session Of a pistol felony with very ex-
IRENE punishment, and repeal the present
statute about concealed pistols and carrying
them without a license.
The congress could easily prohibit their
manufacture, their being carried through the
mails, their being transported by interstate
carriers or being, imported from foreign
countries, and such action by congress would
mean the end of the deadly pistol, and the
saving of many human lives and expensive
trials.
Next to whisky | believe the pistol has
caused more innocent women to be made
WIDOWS and more innocent Chlldfen 10 De
made fatherless and has caused more eX-
pense for criminal courts than any other
evil
The argument that the pistol manufacturers
make to the effect that the constitution Of
the United States gives the right to every
citizen to bear arms is without merit. If the
legislatures pass statutes directing the
method and manner OF bearing arms GER
tainly congress would have the power to de
fine and describe such arms the citizen
may Colquitt Surf.