Evening star., 1947-03-26
Letters to The Star
Argues Against Proposal for
Registration of Firearms

ing proposed amendments to the District
of Columbia firearms law.
While some extension of the power of
the police to search for firearms may be
advisable, 1t seems to me that we should
pause for little calm reflection before
which the police suggest. We might, for
instance, consider the following: The
present law is modelled upon the Uni
form Firearms Act. 1t is modern legis-
lation, adopted in 1882, and carefully
drawn by experts in the matter of
firearms regulation. 1t applies to all
transfers Of pistols within the District
of Columbia the initial sale" and
subsequent private deals"
1t requires that all such transfers be
reported to the police, with full infor-
nation concerning the transferee and
the pistol involved. 1t prohibits the
transfer Of any pistol to person who
has been previously convicted ofIa crime
of violence, or who is of unsound mind,
a drug addict, or less than 18 years old.
Indeed, no person who has been con-
victed OF, a crime of violence is even
permitted to have pistol in his possess
sion within the District of Columbia.
Law Provides Penalties.
Heavy penalties in addition to those
normally provided for the crime, are
authorized for one who commits crime
of x,in1 aoI xxyif fro ory,o
Similar statutes have been enacted in
many states and have proved to be
effective. 1t therefore seems that the
burden of proof is upon the police when
they say that radical changes in the
present law are necessary. In addition
to the already strict prohibitions of the
existing District of Columbia law, the
Federal Firearms Act provides severe
penalties for the interstate transporta-
ton of firearms by persons previously
convicted of a crime of violence. Before
embarking upon the radical program
suggested by the police, would it not he
well to find out whether and to what
extent they have invoked and used the
provisions of these existing laws? Be-
fore giving them new powers, let us see
whether they have used those already
at hand.
The police say that all firearms should
be registered. It is contended that this
provision would impede or embarrass
the criminal. But would it? Consider
the cases of the men charged with shoot
ing Mr.. Kelly and Officer Padgett. Both
suspects are reported to have been pre-
They therefore violated the law by hav-
Ing pistols in their possession. Accord
ing to the police they were also willing
to violate the law by committing murder.
Does any one believe that such men
would pay the slightest attention to a
law requiring them to register their
pistols? The same can be said of the
proposal that all possession of pistols
should be licensed. Such licensing and
registration requirements might disarm
the honest and law-abiding citizen, but
they would not touch the criminal at all.
New York Experience.
If the police think they can reform
mankind by legislation, let them look at
New York. Thugs carry guns in New
York and policemen are shot there; yet
the New York statute makes it felony
to possess pistol without a license.
The police suggest "the possibility of
taking sample bullets from all registered
pistols" The difficulty with this sugges-
ton is that no one has yet devised a
method of classifying pistol bullets as
fingerprints are classified. You can sort
them out by caliber and make, but that
is all. Moreover, the bore of a pistol
changes with use and wear so that the
markings left upon the bullet also
change. For these reasons the practical
value OF a f1le" of bullets is doubtful
to say the least. It is interesting to
note that the Communist Party has per-
sistently demanded that all persons be
required to register their firearms The
police, of course. do not intend to follow
the Communist Party line. The philoso-
ply underlying the Communist demand,
however, is one of many reasons why
thoughtful citizens oppose the registra-
ton of privately owned firearms.
The murder of Mr.. Kelly and the
shooting of Officer Padgett are, of
course, deplorable; but they will be still
more deplorable if they lead to unthink-
ing acceptance of the unwise proposals
Of the police. Let us not become hys-
terical, and harass or attempt to disarm
all decent citizens, merely because some
thug has shot man. ROGER ROBB. -
Editors note-The police proposals
to which Mr.. Robb takes exception
should not be confused with extension
of police power to search persons sus-
pected of carrying concealed weapons.
The Star, along with the police, the
prosecutors, judges and District Com
missioners, favors the Hebert bill which
provides simply that police may arrest
and search persons they have good rea-
son to believe are carrying firearms in
violation of the law. Police cannot now
make legal arrests of persons known to
be carrying weapons unless they actually
see the person commit a crime or unless
they obtain warrant. In order to make
effective the firearms act which Mr..
Robb praises, The Star believes the
Hebert bill is needed)
Tax Relief for Aged
To the editor OF The Star:
We are glad to note that it is con-