Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-03-31
Sitter Gun Laws

Gun Laws" was excellent.
Proposals by the District
Commissioners to require IL
censing Of handguns main
tanned in homes and places
of business in the District
should be defeated decisively.
Patterned after the ineffec-
tive and dangerous Sullivan
Law of New York, in prac-
tice such licensing would ac-
tually eliminate the owner
ship Of firearms by good
citizens, while harming the
gangster and thug not at all.
1t is impossible to prevent
the acquisition of weapons
by criminals, who already
break many laws and do not
in the least mind breaking
one more to obtain and carry
a gun. Such a law would
only render the decent, re-
sponsible citizen impotent to
protect his home and family
against an increasing wave Of
criminal savagery.
Even II the manufacture
of guns could be stopped en-
tirely which Is manifestly
impossible anyone with a
minimum Of mechanical skill
could take a bar Of axle stock,
use an electric or hand drill
and a few odds and ends, and
make q gun that would kill.
1t would not be a precision
instrument, but it would do
the Job.
The answer lies in the
rigid enforcement Of laws and
application of penalties
against the misuse Of fire
arms by criminals and by
proper training of citizens in
the handling Of weapons
where this training is needed,
and not in the denial of the
Constitutional right of our
people to keep arms, q right
and tradition that is as old
as or older than the Nation
itself.
I lived in Washington for
many years and may live
there again some day. The
police are understaffed and
cannot be everywhere. Our
people are already defense
less on the streets. Are they
to be defenseless in their
homes and places Of BUSH
ness as well7
Floyd Preston Swiggett, Jr.
1t was with pleasure that I
read your March % editorial
on firearms laws. 1t exhibited
reason and common sense.
Your editorial is In extreme
contrast to the fanatical and
hysterical editorials on fire.
arms in some other news
papers.
I, for one, believe that
strict" firearms laws make
the Job Of the criminal cas-
Ter. The theory that "the po-
lice will protect you" has
been disproven, time and
again. Nine women In Bos-
ton. II they could speak.
could prove that police pro-
lection is not always avail
able. and that mass murder
ers do not need firearms to
kill. Boston has strict" gun
laws. II strangling victim
number one had had a pistol
and used 1t with effect, there
would not have been a vic
tim" number one. let alone
one through nine.
II is true that criminals
use guns. Criminals will use
anything that will give them
the edge" on their victims.
But control" Of arms should
not be used TO deprive hon.
est men Of their rights. II
this Is the idea. then we can
eliminate crime by failing
everybody.
J. Z. Keenan,.
Frederick. Md.
$50
Existing District law al
ready forbids taking q pistol
either openly or concealed
out Of ones home or place
OF business without a permit.
This permit, police admit, Is
virtually impossible 10 OBJ
tain. Thus practically anyone
found In possession OF a pistol
on the street is In violation
OF a law punishable by q
maximum fine Of $1,000 or
one years imprisonment. or
both.
Moreover, mere possession
OF a pistol by anyone con-
victed OF a crime Of violence
is In violation OF the Federal
Firearms Act, carrying even
heavier penalties.
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