New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-09-03

B Mahon, the retired bartender, s'the
way lotta folks want law passed
to prevent the sale Of revolvers all
over the country like the Sullivan law pre-
vents it here.
~ don't hold much with revolvers myself,
never hayin had to use one, though the boss
always kept one by the cash drawer; but so
fairs I've noticed them that does use 'em is
always been able to get 'em, an it looks to
me like they'd have the only revolvers to be
got if such law was passed.
"The funny part Of it is that most Of them
that's doin' all the shootin' nowadays Is boot
leggers that's already got the best o. one law.
They prohibited booze an made business in
it SO good that the bootleggers gets to shootin'
each other over who shall have the best terri
tory.
sIf they go an prohibit revolyers there's
no tellin' what might happen, but it'd prob'ly
result in compound fracture Of that law, too
"O' course, you can't brew revolvers at
home like you hooch, but there amt many
classy bootleggers monkeyin' wit horne brew
stuff, anyhow. The moneys in the real stuff
that they get from the outside or that friends
of theirs that's on the inside get outa bonded
warehouses for 'em.
1.-THE way figure it, about the same thing
would happen if revolvers was prohibited
German pistol manufacturers prob1y would
make enough in the course of year or two
so that Germany could pay off these indemni-
ties just outa the taxes on their factories
"Boats would be runnin' pistols like thew
run booze now. Sailors on every incomin'
boat would carry side line of CATS to trade
with the Americans, just like them on the boats
in the old days used to carry lookin' glasses
an brass rings to trade with the savages.
"Bootleggers an all the strong-arm mobs
would get their gats the same as usual, except
maybe they'd pay more for 'em, but the fella
that wanted an honest gun to keep by the cash
drawer wouldn't be able to get one.
AT that, it might be good thing, one way.
All the guns would be in the hands Of them
nat knew how to use EN-. There wouldn't
re any NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. accidents.
There wouldn't be no babies usin' revolvars
for playthings. 1t probly would reduce the
mortality from gunshot wounds considerable
that way. You don't never hear Of no gun
men, nor even no bootleggers, shootin' them
selves by accident, nor shootin' ANYBODY else
by accident, neither.
Some Of EN- are pretty rotten shots. at
that, but they always manage to keep away
from in front of their own gats. Even cop
sometimes drops his gat out of his pocket an
it goes off an shoots him, or he pulls the
trigger by mistake when he's cleanin' It, But
you don't never hear of no crooks gettin' hurt
that way.
There prob'ly wouldn't be no more people
shot on purpose than what there is now. for
it looks like everybody was shootin' all they
could possibly want TO right now an there
amt no doubt at all that thered be lot less
accidental shootins. The idea is all right if
yen argue for it that way.
@But them that want it don't use that arg,,.
ment. They say If IT'S against the law to have
or sell gats, why there WON'T nobody get shot
Well, maybe they won't--if they put their
hands up quick enough"