Evening star., 1952-05-19
District Citizens Speak Out on Air Rifle Issue

posed Tightening of regulations
against air guns here.
The witnesses s-all but one of
whom favored stricter laws
against air guns-made up the
bulk OF the crowd who attended
the Commissioners first proposed
regulations day."
The Commissioners have de-
cided to hold public hearings once
every month, when citizens can
express their views on projected
legislation. The hearings began
this morning.
Commissioner F. Joseph Dono-
hue, in welcoming the witnesses,
said the hearing was "a sort of
town meeting" He pointed out
that although citizens could not
vote for city officers at the meet
ing, it was a step toward self
government because they could
consider and discuss proposed
changes in laws.
The proposed amendment to
existing police regulations would
forbid the sale or transfer of air
guns and ammunition to children
under Is. It would also prohibit
possession of the guns on public
property. Existing law contains
no prohibition against the sale
of air guns to children under Is.
Find Proposal Inadequate.
Attorney Edward Bennett Will
liams. representing the District
Society for the Prevention of
Blindness. said his group was in
favor of the proposed amendment,
but felt it inadequate.
"Our records show there have
been 80 cases of eye injury from
BIB guns in the Metropolitan area
over the last year or So" he said.
Five children lost an eye. In the
majority of the cases the guns
were bought by the parents, not
by the children. The majority of
the children also were injured in
their yards-not on public space.
1--WE say outlaw the sale, pos
session and use of these guns any,
where in the District" Mr.. Will
liamS shouted.
Frank Daniel, assistant secre-
tary of the National Rifle ASsocia-
ton, said he did not want to be
"the skeleton at the feast" But
he said he did not want the pro-
posed regulations to prevent pro-
grams here of supervised shooting
by children.
He said there is mo question
that there is natural affinity be-
tween a boy and a gun" He said
there are 13 million hunting
licenses issued each year, and
said that shows the need of the
type of programs administered by
the rifle association.
Cites Supervised Program.
He said the NRA has supervised
BIB shooting programs for younger
children and asked the Commits
sioners to word any amendment
so that such programs could be
continued or instituted here.
However. Mrs. Ruth c. Drissel,
of 4408 New Hampshire avenue
NV, followed Mr.. Daniel to the
stand and said II beg to differ"
She said her son had received
an eye injury when he ac-
companied two other boys with
BIB guns to a target range. She
said both boys had been trained
in the handling of the guns.
"These boys were shooting at
the target when a pellet richo-
cheted off a rock and hit my son
in the eye," she said.
Youngest witness-and one who
spoke from experience-was Wes-
ley Honeycutt, 13, of 5907 Mills
road NE. He raised his hand
when Commissioner Donohue asked
If there were any additional wit
nesseS to be heard.
Relates Own Experiences.
II have been hit three or four
times by air-rif1e pellets" he said.
"Once, a pellet went through the
top of my ear and the doctor had
to dig it out of my skin. Other
times I was hit on my leg and
body"
You want us to protect you. is
that it?" Mr.. Donohue asked.
"Yes, SIR" the youth answered.
1t. Shelton r. Mckee of the
Metropolitan Police Department
brought as exhibits several panes
of glass shattered by BIB pellets.
B. F. Taylor. of the District
Public Schools Association. read
an abstract from an air rifle ad-
vertisement which boasted that
the gun would penetrate one inch
into a pine board from a dis
tance of 40 feet.
This approaches the power Of