The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-05-01
SEES LOOPHOLE FOR
MAIL ORDER HOUSES
Attacks. Statute for Placing
Control of Permits in
Hands of County Clerk
Says Legislature Ignored
Air Tight Advice.

War on gun-toting, which he
declares will be encouraged by
law passed by the last Legis-
lature, now in effect, was de-
clared today by Police Chief
Herman F. Rikhoff.
The new law allows persons to
carry revolvers upon receiving a per-
init from the clerk Of Circuit Court.
An increase In crime is expected
by Chief Rikhoff as a result of the
new law.
Section Of the new law reads:
"The clerk of any Circuit Court of
the State OF Indiana. shall, upon ap-
plication of any citizen having a
bonafide residence or place Of bust
ness within the State Of Indiana, or
of any person having a bonafide
residence or place of business within
the United States and permit to
carry a flrearm concealed upon his
person issued by authorities of any
other State or subdivision OF the
United States. issue a permit to such
citizen TO carry a pistol or revolver
within the State of Indiana, during
the period of a year or until re-
voked, as herein provided--"
VIII See Ogden
Chief Rikhoff. said he would con-
fer with James Ogden, corporation
counsel on the legality Of the act.
In addition to permitting persons
to carry guns, never before tolerated
in indianapolis, Rikhoff said the law
took the control OF gun ownership
out Of the hands of police. AS re-
suit, he said. they will not know who
owns revolvers.
Police chief or his secretary pre-.
viously issued permits to Indianapo-
lis citizens for use of firearms In
their homes or business places. Some
200 of these are now held. These
will become void in a month. under
the provisions of the law.
Advice Ignored?
Several points of the new law
will be of help" he said, but
don't see why the persons who drew
up the bill could not have received
a few suggestions as extended and
have made the law alright"
He said the new law will not stop
the shipping Of guns into the State
by mail order houses. The law, he
cited, licensing dealers to sell guns
refers to only those In Indiana and
does not pertain to those outside the
State.
IT wrote a letter to the Legisla-
ture, asking that out of State firms
be allowed to ship guns to buyers,
only through my office. In that
way. could force the purchaser to
come under the city law, covering
possession. l also asked that no
one but peace officers be allowed
to carry guns and so-called private
detectives be disarmed. Now almost
every Tom, Dick and Harry will be
carrying a gun"
Fears More Murders
Rikhoff said he felt the section AL
lowing citizens to apply for a per-
NIT to carry q gun under easy cir
cumstances left leeway open for
many murders.
"A citizen may be an excellent
character today and have all the
friends in the world sign his appli-
cation, still the first man sinned and
people have been doing things they
never have done before ever since
Adam. An armed man. placed in
exasperating circumstances, will use
that gun to his sorrow later"
Rikhoff said he is against the sec
ton that allows an owner Of gun
to transfer the gun to another per-
son, through the guise that he Is a
friend and known. He said that Sec
tion 10, which demands that a per
son who sells guns be licensed should
also apply to giving away.
Rikhoff commended sections of the
new law which provide that persons
arrested committing or attempting
to commit a crime found carrying a
gun without a permit shall be
guilty of felony and subject to one
to five years Imprisonment.
He said he would order police to
study the law and prosecute all per-
sons found with guns without per-
mission.
Police are investigating an alleged
shooting. at 220 N. Illinois ST..
Thursday night.
Fred LAmpes, 354 w. Twenty
Ninth St., who was eating in a
restaurant, said he heard shot
fired in the street outside.
A mysterious man seen pacing
back and forth along the street,
might have been a bootlegger and
might have shot at a rival police