Control of Firearms Further tightening up of the law in
regard to the manu- facture and sale of firearms and the issue of firearm certificates is recommended by a Departmental Com- mittee which has been examining the question. The main object of the Act of 1920, which it is proposed should be strengthened, is to prevent private persons from being in possession of weapons which might be used for criminal purposes, without interfering with the legiti- mate possession of sporting weapons. In a civilized country there is no good reason for any private person to be in possession of a lethal weapon. It is recog- nized that no scheme of control has been, or can be, devised which will prevent determined criminals from obtaining firearms. But the ease with which they can be procured in America is undoubtedly a contributory cause to the prevalence of crimes of violence. It is sug- gested that the manufacture of automatic pistols, which are in effect small machine guns, should be totally pro- hibited except when authorized by the military authori- ties. What matters even more than amendment of the law is its enforcement. The fact that the police in this country are unarmed has greatly discouraged the use of firearms by criminals.
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