Evening star., 1963-01-27
Hearing Due
Tuesday on
Crime Increase
BY SAM EASTMAN
Star staff Writer

Tne pubic hearings on Jne
traffic in mail order weapons
have been called by the Judi
ciary Committees Juvenile De-
linquency Subcommittee.
In announcing this move
Subcommittee Chairman Dodd,
Democrat Of Connecticut. cited
gun shipment records in the
District as an example Of the
weapons factor in crime.
In Washington, the Senator
said, Railway Express Agency
records show the largest num-
Der of guns we're shipped to
residents in five police pre-
cincts-2. 9, 13, 10 and 5.
Comedies With Crime
"And in precisely that order
these are the precincts with the
highest crime rates." Senator
Dodd said.
Senator Dodd said the hear
ings follow two years of in
tensive investigation, and are
designed to get at the bottom
of the traffic in concealable
weapons to murderers, felons.
mental detectives, and a large
body of juvenile delinquentS."
He added:
I'VE intend to see what can
be done to curb 1t. Tens Of
thousands, II not millions, Of
these weapons have been sold
via the mail order common
carrier route"
Subcommittee staff members
said the investigation indicates
that at least 25 per cent Of
the guns coming into the Dis
trict are going to ex-convicts.
One of the guns traced went
to a man with a five-page
criminal record, they said.
TObriner Agrees
The subcommittee action
drew prompt support yester-
day from District Commis-
sioner Walter N. Tobriner.
I Mr.. Tobriner, who super
vises police activities in the
District, said the mail-order
shipment Of guns constitutes
a very dangerous source of
supply to the criminal ele-
ment."
Mr.. Tobriner said that effec-
tive controls over the mail
order shipment of firearms
would substantially decrease
the problem Of concealed
weapons.
Last week Mr.. Tobriner said
he had told police to start spe-
cial patrols in trouble-spot
areas to crack down on persons
carrying concealed weapons.
The commissioner took this ac-
ton after receiving a report
that two policemen recently
had made a series of arrests for
concealed weapons near one
street corner within a period of
four hours.
Five we're adults an d the
sixth a juvenile, police said.
Early Report Cited
In yesterdays announce
ment, Senator Dodd said the
report Of these arrests under
lined "the plight of District of
Columbia police in controlling
Illicit guns illegally in the
hands Of incompetents."
The Senator noted that last
; April he had pointed out that
mail order guns had been
shipped to ex-convicts and ju-
veniles here.
Senator Dodd said that the
subcommittee's Nation wide
study Of the problem had re-
vealed a clear need for correc-
tive legislation. He said:
Case after case has come to
our attention where juveniles
accidentally or otherwise killed
people with this type Of gun.
having lied about their age to
obtain it. And for each Of these.
there are hundreds of other
cases where mail order type
weapons have been used in the
commission Of crime"
Conferred With Suppliers
The subcommittee has met
with representatives Of groups
concerned with the problem,
including gun manufacturers.
importers, and dealers, Senator
Dodd said. Legislation TO con-
troll the gun traffic Is being
drafted In cooperation with
these groups, he said.
Two years ago, The Star re-
ported that between rs and 100
pistols and revolvers are shipped
without restriction TO custom
ers in the Washington area
each month.
In October. 1861, President
Kennedy signed into law a bill
broadening the coverage Of the
Federal firearms statute. The
old banned interstate shipment
Of weapons 10 persons convicted
or accused Of any crime Of
violence such as murder or
rape. The 1861 legislation takes
in any person who has been
convicted Of a State or Federal
felony. or is under indictment
or a fugitive from felony
charges.
Tuesdays hearing will be the
first Of a series on the firearms
problem. Most Of the hearings
viii be held in Washington. but
a few will be In other cities.
The Capitol Hill hearing
room for the Tuesday session,
which will start at i0:3O am.
and the names Of the witnesses
vttii ka at,paut,caa tov,,,r,,,,