Evening star., 1932-03-26
MU[ROONEY VIEW
TO Be ASKED ON
D. c. FIREARMS BILL
Senate Committee Gives
Copeland Time to Confer
With New York Official.
HEARINGS ON VETERAN
MEASURE TO BE PRINTED
Advocates Explain Benefits of Uni
form Guardianship Legisla-
tion Proposed.

The firearms bill and the uniform
veterans guardianship bill were dis
cussed before the Senate District Conn
mlttee yesterday afternoon. but final
action on both measures was deferred
Inc proposed new law on the sale and
possession OF weapons is virtually reedv
10 be reported to the Senate. but sens
tor Copeland, Democrat of New Yor,-
asked Tor time to obtain the opinion of
Police Commissioner Mulrooney of New
York City as to its details.
The guardianship bill was I'd for the
nrst time at this session, and Chairman
Capper announced the hearings would
be printed and submitted to the conn
mittee at later meeting. The guard
lanshlp bill was explained and advo-
Gated by Maj H T. Jones. chief attor-
uey for the Veterans Administration
IN this region; E. E. Odon, chief of the
Guardianship Division of the Veterans
Administration; Charles v. INLAY, local
member Of the National Conference of
Commissioners on Uniform State Laws:
Capt. Watson B. Miller of the American
Legion; Thomas F. Cameron, assistant
corporation counsel, and Theodore Coqs-
we'll, register of wills. With a slight diff.
ference of opinion concerning one pro-
posed amendment, the witnesses agreed
on the essential featares of the measure.
Veteran Details Protected.
This bill, the witnesses said. would re-
heve incompetent veterans from the ne
cessity of being taken before a jury in
open court In order TO have guardians
appointed for them, but it would not
deprive man OF this right if he desired
1t: The bill also would set forth detailed
requirements in the management of
veterans affairs. 1t is similar to legis-
lation enacted in 81 other jurisdictions.
Senator Copeland said he favored
legislation to curb firearms and had no
desire to delay the pending bill. but he
desired TO obtain the Judgment of the
New York police commissioner on the
proposed plan of regulation here.
Mr.. Inlay said police officials gen.
orally favor too severe law on the DOS
session OF weapons by citizens because
tney oeiieVe the community should rely
as much as possible on the police in
protecting itself from criminals. He
predicted that the New York conn,is-
sioner would say the pending bin is not
drastic enough.
Bill Carefully Drawn.
Mr.. INLAY explained that the bill pro-
posed mere has been carefully drawn
and seeks to keep weapons away from
criminals without unduly restricting the
right OF the citizen to have firearms in
Ills home or place Of business. When
q law goes too far In prohibiting the
law-ahiding citizen from possessing a
weapon, he said, it becomes more DIM
cult to enforce. Under the pending bin
of firearms would have 10
wait 40 hours for delivery, during which
time the police would have an oppor-
tunity to pass on the application.
Senator Copeland suggested finger
printing as one of the application re-
quirements, but this has been objected
to by supporters of the bill Chairman
Capper called attention to numerous
resolutions he has received from civic
organizations in support of the pend
ing bill