Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-03-04
Tear Gas Billies Should
Be Permitted as LEGAL
To the Editor OF The Star:

The vast majority Of hold-uns IN the
District of Columbia occur 70 the
smaller, poorly defended places of bnsi-
ness, generally at night. Such b,,si-
ness concerns, as well as private bor,ee
have an inalienable right 10 defend
their lives and property against sI,cb
depredations.
Under the provisions of the nronosad
law regulating the sale. possession and
/ use of dangerous and deadly WeannnS
the individual at home or the small
business owner has no discretion hut
to arm himself with a pistol as ali
other weapons are outlawed nv the hill
A great many persons are strictly
opposed 10 tne use OF a firearm or
pistol around their homes or places of
business Tor variety of reasons. They
are all too frequently the cause of a
latal accioent' especially among chill
dren, and even when used purposely
result in disaster because of mistaken
identity or poor craftsmanship.
In view of this attitude MANY ner-
sons keep around, within easy reach,
a cudgel, club or billy that can be
used as weapon Of Self-defenSe They
have no desire or occasion To carry
such weapon about their nersor or
automobile. but prefer to place their
tate IN the hands of destiny, rather
than carry piStol-a deadly Weapon
as a means of defense when abroad.
Inc manufacturers of tear gas pro-
tectlVe oeVlceS early recognized this
fact when surveying the field of de-
fensive weapons and, bv the most mai
ural process of evolution. INCORPORATED
the advantages of tear gas in prac-
tical hand billy. This weapon pos
Sesses all OF the virtues of a conven-
tional or improvised billy or club plus
the tear gas. 1t cannot be claSsed as
lethal weapon in the strict sense of
the word.
The tear gas billy became imme-
diately popular with conservative indi-
viduals and Acknowledgement officers
alike. Its widespread general use and
oroad application seems to substantiate
the judgment of the manufacturers
who made it available. Among other
applications this weapon is used by
pe;litentiary guards and by the United
St..ts Treasury guards, to the ex-
cluSlon OF pistols. There can be no
question but that such applications
must receive the most critical investi-
cation before change of weapons can
be considered
Under the proposed law the tear gas
billy Is legal SO far as the tear gas
feature is concerned, but outlawed in
its billy characteristics. Suggestions
have been made that the weapon be
modified by the manufacturers to re-
move it from the billy class, making
IL strictly tear gas weapon. This
Is lmpractlcable at present, for two
reasons: First, because there is no
assurance that such a weapon would
receive popular favor and second. be-
cause, being a strictly defensive weapon,
1t does not now nor is it likely to,
constitute police problem or men
ace to the peace and security Of the
community as long as it is not carried
as a concealed weapon
Another suggestion is made that all
business concerns which employ watch
men or collectors can have such per-
sons made special policemen. There
are over 1000 such police in the
District already. The commission of
special policemen would exclude such
individuals from the provisions of the
arms law and permit them to carry
any weapon, machine gun included. in
the performance of their duties. How
ever, the owner of a lunch room or
grocery store cannot be made spe-
cial policeman, nor can the citizen in
his home. 1t is this class that suffers
the greatest damage at the hands Of
the underworld.
In any event, creating special police
is, in a sense, employing subterfuge,
and I predict dire results from any
law that is so easily circumvented.
Machine guns should be outlawed en-
tirely, as far as the public is concerned.
1t is my earnest belief that the Spe-
cific tear gas billy now manufactured
and sold should be recognized and its
possession about the home or place of
business should be made legal. The
pistol is far from being the ideal
weapon, even in the minds of the most
ardent advocates of firearms legisla-
tion but it is recognized that reputable |
citizens cannot be denied the right of
possessing a weapon for their self
defense Should the tear gas billy
the pistol in this capacity
many unfortunate accidents and deaths |
would be avoided.
A great many of our laws swing from |
one extreme to another under the |
pressure of sincere but idealistic re-
formers, and from lax provisions they
60 to such drastic and ill-considered
provisions that wholesale violations and
bootlegging Is almost certain. Those |
in the welfare of the COM
munity should make it their business /
to see that, after years of effort, a !
workable firearms law is |
enacted and that, above all. a citi- |
zen's inalienable right of self-defense !
remains unabrogated, with a reasonable |
latitude as to his choice of weapons.
ROBERT F. JONES.