Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-29
Puny Laws on Weapons
Police Lsck Legal Backing In Drive against Crirni
rais-Tncrease Of Crime Coineident With
Sale of Guns.

done with reviewers and with knives.
For the current fiscal year ended
June 80. 1871. the Police Department
report includes 81 homicides IS COM
mitted with pistols and is with knives
Reform EnUrts blocked
Despite the ever-mounttng toll Of
fatal crimes performed by persons OBJ
viously wrongly In possession OF re-
volvers. the corporation counsels once
states that no conclusive progress has
been achieved through It's persistent ef-
forts 20 obtain corrective legislation
Every proposal, from the bill spon-
sored by Senator Capper. in 1922. TO the
highly comprehensive act presented at
the last session Of Congress after care
full formulation by Thomas p. Cam
eron, assistant corporation counsel. has
met the same fate Of death from
neglect
Examination Of the present bill
which Is being groomed for another APP
pearance in the approa ching congress
sional session. reveals that II Is de-
signed primarily to control the future
sale Of dangerous weapons In the Dis
trict and TO discourage the gun-wielder
by providing severe additional penalties
for the use OF . dangerous weapon In
the commission Of any crime or nils
demeanor. While not as rigid as the
famed Sullivan law Of New York State,
requiring that possession Of gun with
out a permit Is illegal under any cir
cumstances. the statute does incor-
porate a clause which regards the pos
session OF a dangerous weapon during
the enactment Of an offense as prima
facia evidence Of the intent to use II.
Broad Law Proposed.
The regulatory system operative in
case the present law Is passed will EN-
brace features to control the possess
sion, sale, transfer and use Of danger
hia: to provide penalties. to prescribe
rules of evidence" as the preamble OF
the statute announces.
In regard to possession the act pro-
videS that committing crime OF vio-
lence (under which classification Is In
cluded assault with q dangerous weapon,
assault with intent to rob, assault with
intent to main, robbery. grand larceny,
burglary and house breaking. as wen as
the major crimes) when armed or hav-
ing available any dangerous weapon"
shall be punishable by imprisonment
for not more than five years on con-
viction for the first offenSe, not more
than 10 years for the second conviction,
not more than Is years for the third
and not more than 80 years for the
fourth offense, all these penalties to be
in addition to the regular punishment
proyidej by law for such crime.
1t viii be further provided that no
person ever convicted here or elsewhere
of crime Of violence shall have in his
possession under any circumstances a
dangerous weapon. Likewise no person,
with the usual exception Of policemen,
soldiers, etc. are permitted to carry
concealed weapons without license
except at home or ct their place of
business or on other property owned by
them. Special dispensations also are
made in regard to dealers and persons
carrying dangerous weapons "unloaded
and in q secure wrapper" from the
place of purchase to his home or to or
from repair shop, etc.
Licenses Regulated.
Licenses to carry dangerous weapons
shall be issued by the superintendent
of police Of the District. the law states.
upon receipt Of an application contain
ing a statement Of . Sufficient cause
for carrying such an instrument, to-
gether with the persons name, address,
description, photograph and signature.
Finally, $500 peace bond will be re-
Qutred before the permit Is declared
valid.
blank containing the name, finger
prints, age, address, full personal data
of prospective purchaser of danger
Gus weapon, as well as description OF
the identifying features Of the in
strument, must be forwarded to the
superintendent of police by the seller
before delivery Is made, the law would
require. The superintendent viii then
return his decision within 48 hours to
the seller. II the sale Is approved, the
weapon may then be handed over,
wrapped securely and unloaded.
The rules governing the acquisition
of dealers licenses and the conditions
attached to them require the usual
maintenance of records of sale for the
examination Of the police, but add a
clause novel to the District, forbidding
the display of dangerous weapons any
where on the premises where thy can be
seen from the outside.
BHI Supercedes Previous Laws.
Alteration of identifying marks on
any dangerous weapon. giving false in
formation during purchase or applica-
ton for license and sale to minors also
are forbidden
The bill If adopted would supercede
all past legislation on the subject.
If debilitated by another Shunt into
oblivion from the Senate District Com
mittee, the law can only rest on the
shelf to await another session of Con-
greSs. Assistant Corporation Counsel
Cameron points out leaving the resi-
dents of the District exposed to the
dangers of the present lax regulations.
rnICnnyo cnMc Nrr