OCR Text |
Show exclusively, because of their greater destructive possibilities. It is noteworthy note-worthy that in a number of communities commun-ities where strict anti-pistol laws are in effect, machine guns are openly sold. A citizenry which owns guns and knows how to shoot them is a strong protection against underworld depredations. depre-dations. Laws which make protection protec-tion difficult for lawabiding, defeat their own object and aid the criminal class. ! ANTI-PISTOL LAWS IRRATIONAL. In attempts to curb crime well-meaning well-meaning people often advocate laws to make the sale and possession of small arms illegal. It is interesting to note just what effect anti-pistol laws have had in practice. In New York, which has its drastic Sullivan law applying to small arms, there is no dearth of crime. The underworld which does not pause at robbery and murder, is not stopped by a felony law against gun ownership. Large American cities are hot-beds of crime. Yet most of them have anti-pistol laws of some kind. As a matter of fact, the most reprehensible rep-rehensible and best organized crim-nal crim-nal activities, gang outrages, employ maeh'ne guns and automobiles almost |