THE DEATH PENALTY FOR GUNMEN [To the Editor of the
SPECTATOR.] SIR,—In February and March last you published letters from me suggesting that habitual criminals of the wont type might, on repeating a serious offence after a solemn judicial warning, be sentenced to death.
I write now to suggest that any offender convicted of any crime and of being at the same time in possession of a loaded firearm should, on receiving sentence, be warned in the most solemn manner by the judge that if he is convicted again and found to be again in possession of a loaded firearm he will be sentenced to death.
Except by the advocates of the total abolition of capital punishment, I do not see how any objection could be taken to the above proposal, for the mere fact that the criminal has a loaded firearm on him is proof positive that he is quite ready and prepared to commit murder, and his persistence in so arming himself again after solemn judicial warning fully entitles the community to protect itself by putting an end to him.—I am, Sir, &c., ROBERT GLADSTONE. 9 Bluecoat Chambers, School Lane, Liverpool.
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