The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1925-08-18

There are almost as many pistols as
,..d oencils in the United States to-
DIV Americas annual toll of murder
+. II 900 lives, and the rate in 1924
n.s double that of 1900. In Chicago
lone II policemen have been shot to
ie,tb bv criminals within year. In
edition crimes of all kinds are COM
,,;tted throughout the country by
outlaws who use guns to subdue their
n victims.
The reason why murder and other
,-,nes are so easy in the United States
today police and crime experts say,
!. the ease with which the death-deal-
mo firearms can be obtained by any
person, adult or MINOR
Sell Thousands Of Pistols.
MANY business establishments sell
Iond-cds of thousands of pistols and
other firearms every year. AT least a
third of these weapons, it is declared,
are bought by men and women OF
criminal tendencies.
Tn many states there are laws max
inp the carrying of pistols a crime,
while in other states the government
grants permits for the use of revolvers
and other weapons But the joker is
tbis-the criminal can obtain permit
10 carry a pistol as easily as respect
able citizen. Also, the criminal laughs
at laws which forbid him to possess
firearms.
Pistol The Thugs Friend.
How the thug and criminal use the
ostol is an old, old story. Every day
there are fresh murders. In New York
Civ and Chicago money is transported
through the streets in heavily armored
motor trucks. In the middle west
reward is paid to any man who kills
bank robber Banks all over the
country are coming to be armed forts.
4 And still the bank robberies, street
foldups. murders and other crimes
4 Committed with the pistol are on the
Increase.
There is still another angle to the
toll the pistol and its brothers OF the
firearms class take in America each
4 wear. There are thousands of accident
al shootings, and many deaths. Most
Of these are caused by the handling OF
firearms by children. Pistols lett ly-
ing in the homes of the nation, too,
take their toll in life and limb.
Hotbed OF Pistol Crimes,
New York City, it is declared, is a
hotbed OF pistol crimes. Robber1es
and murders are daily occurrences
there, and a majority of these crimes
are committed with the aid OF the PTS
tol New York City is located in a
state which has an antigun law that
requires owners of guns to have per
mits, but there is scarcely criminal
who does not own pistol.
Each day police of New York con-
a iiscate at least a dozen pistols which
they lind being carried by underworld
denizens. Gun toters are arrested and
hailed into court, but a heavy sentence
is unusual rather than the rule. New
York each year pays a huge toll to the
gun in the hands of the criminal.
Chicago Suffering Too.
Then there is Chicago, which is sui
ierign too Killing policemen has be-
come the favorite sport OF Chicago
gunmep, records indicate. Feuds be-
tween gangsters themselves also are
born of the pistol Since the beginning
Of 1925 there have been 2l0 gun kill
mgs in Chicago-but there have been
only two executions for murder, and
ten convicted murderers have walked
away from the state prison honor
arn. Murders are committed even IN
the Jails.
And the same is true OF any other
large city in the nation. The smaller
towns and cities and the rural sections,
too, have their quota Of gun crimes III
proportion to their size.
Authorities Seek Remedies.
Despite all these facts, which are
proved and reliable, the authorities are
having hard time to Danish the gun
and other firearms.
A bill now is pending in congress
which would place tax OF SlO0 on
each gun sold and tax OF 81 on each
Cartridge sold.
There is no reason for any one else
10 have gun. No crime ever has been
prevented just because the victim had
pencils in this country, and the
amount OF shooting that goes on IS
Greater here than in all the rest OF the
world.
There are several thousand gunner
N u, the United States-and not one OF
mem IS without a pistol or pistols.
Several OF the larger mail order
1lo1ses, 1t is true, have stopped selling
1rearms to their patrons. But that
uoes not reduce the number OF guns
SOD by any large amount.
1t is estimated that during last year
ssoou' 100000 guns we're imported
nom spain alone and sold for Sl.Oo
That is the reason for another law
.lat has Just been placed before con-
siess This law would place a prohlb-
'1'e duty upon imported firearms.
During the year 1924 the coast