Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-29
The Pistol Evil.

District Of Columbia during the past
fiscal year have been compiled for the
annual report of the Police Depart
ment, showing marked preponder-
ance OF revolvers as weapons used in
assaults and murders. Out OF forty.
two murder cases pistols were EN-
ployed in seventeen, more than any
other weapon. At the same time
there were AL arrests for the carry.
ing OF concealed weapons, an increase
OF eighty over the year previous. The
wea pons involved in these arrests
were: 2evolvers, 23s; knives. 80;
razors, 81; blackjscks. 10; knuckles. {.
II is plain from these figures that the
pistol Is the most dangerous weapon
because the most prevalent.
Mai. Hesse. police superintendent,
announces his purpose to press for
eeisla ton by Congress to correct the
pistol evil A bill has been drawn to
rhis effect increasing the penalties in
ca ses OF crime committed by srmed
to commit felony from the possession
OF a deadly weapon; prohibiting the
carrying of weapons without permit
and authorizing Police Court judges
lation of the traftic in such wea pons.
In any legislation that is sought for
the correction of this grave condition
which makes personal armament for
criminal purposes easy. there should
be rigid prohibition. of the sale or
gift OF deadly weapon to any person
who does not possess and present a
hermit to purchase or acquire one,
issued by responsible public author
ity. Regulations rega riding registra.
ton and proof of identity will not as
suredly reach the root of the evil.
The only sure way to stop trafic in
guns for criminal purposes Ia 10 put
a penalty upon the vendor who sells
to any person who is not licensed to
buy.
1t has been objected that any pistol
regula ton law which aims TO keep
guns out OF the hands of irresponsible
or criminally minded persons is a de-
NAL OF the constitutional right OF the
people to hear arms. This Is not the
case. The right of personal armament
for elfdefense and protection is not
denied by any law which forbids the
- yhN
has not been gra nted permit. Regu-
Ia ton il not prohibition. The purpose
OF such a law is TO prevent ire
sponsible and criminal persons from
arming Themselves TO the end Of
brea king the law. There can be no
breach of the constitutional right in
such a ban against indiscriminate
armament.
Two enactments are necessary to
protect this community from the PTS
toll evil. One is such a law as has
lust been described. and the other is
law which forbids under severe
penalty tho transportation OF deadly
weapons by mail or express, save
under strict regulation and inspec-
ton. to prevent the armament Of po-
tential criminals. There is no argu-
ment against the enactment OF the
former by Congress for the protection
Of the District on the score that
wea pons are easily obtainable in
nearby jurisdictions. Both Maryland
and Virginia should, IL they do not,
have rigid pistol regulation laws.
They should be given an example by
the enactment of suitable law Tor
Washington. 1t should at least De
m de impossible for lawbreakers of
the District to obtain weapons right
here in the city, and to that end such
law as Maj. Hesse proposes, with
amendments to make it's operation
more certain and effective, should be
asked of Congress at the next session
and pressed vigorously.