Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-03-08
EASY TO BUY
Gun Sale
Reforms
Proposed

Pistols are as easy to buy as
toothpaSte, a Senate subcom-
mittee was told yesterday at
hearings on legislation aimed
at tightening restrictions on
purchase of deadly weapons.
James v. Bennett, director
of the Federal Bureau of Pris-
ons. declared there should be
changes in the law TO discour-
age youngsters, criminals and
the mentally i'll from possessing
hand guns.
Specifically he said:
/. Mail order sales of guns
to juveniles should be banned.
2. Licensing standards for
interstate trade in hand guns
should be established by law.
3. License fees should be set
or raised high enough to dis
courage fringe operators from
selling deadly weapons indis-
criminately.
Affidavits Urged
The prison director said buy
ers ordering through the mail
should have to include affi-
davits from police that they
are Is or older, that they have
no criminal record and are in
good mental health.
On display at the hearing
was an exhibit Of some Of the
1000 guns and other weapons
Washington's police seize an
nually as members Of the
Metropolitan force also testi-
fled at the hearing. Committee
Chairman Dodd, Democrat of
Connecticut. said most Of the
so guns traced by the subcom-
mittee belonged to owners who
had criminal records.
Police Chief Robert v. Muir
ray reported that many Of the
same types Of weapons we're
sold by local licensed dealers,
however.
Deputy Police Chief John B.
Layton. testifying for Chief
Murray, said that pistols fig
ured in less than half of
the serious crimes committed
here.
OF SO murders in the District
in 1862, for example, 20 in
volved pistols. Pistols we're used
in 10 per cent OF the 2,079 rob-
berry cases and Of the 2.985
cases Of assault with a dan
gerous weapon.
OF almost 5000 juvenile ar
rests for serious offenses, only
% involved juveniles with
handguns. The Deputy Chief
stressed the difficulty Of trac-
ing guns. Many found in the
District are bought over the
counter in Maryland and Vir-
ginia suburbs, he said.
A search Of the files showed
that a gun used to kill a man
who answered his doorbell on
Tuckerman street in 1859 had
been bought through the mail
by a person using a fictitious
name.
In 1861. a gang Of IA boys
prowled the streets for months
committing violent robberies.
"A gun bought through a maya
zine ad was found in the
gangs hangout. Chief Layton
advised the subcommittee that
police chiefs In the Metropoli-
tan Area were attempting TO
devise uniform statutes 10 reg
ulate the sale Of guns.
Measures Drafted
The subcommitte is drafting
legislation along the lines in
dorsed by Mr.. Bennett and by
John w. Coggins. OF the In
ternal Revenue Service.
Mr.. Coggins said not only
pistols, but gangster type equip
ment like sawed-off shotguns,
mufflers and silencers should
be denied 10 juveniles.
Senator Dodd also displayed
mail order advertisements lur-
ing purchasers TO incredible
prize pistsi give-aways" and 70
guns 80 potent they almost
were barred tfor use in war;
by the Geneva convention"
Mr.. Bennett said guns played
q tremendous and increasing
role" in the increase OF crime
in this country. Guns we're used
in at least half Of the 5000