CRIME IN UNITED STATES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19549, 31 January 1927, Page 10

CRIME IN UNITED STATES.

ACTIVITIES OF GUNMEN. MANY GO UNPUNISHED. REMEDIAL MEASURES PROPOSED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received Jan. 29, 6.15 p.m.) A. and N.Z. CHICAGO, Jan. 28. A National Crime Commission has assembled in Chicago to consider means for reducing crime. It is being attended by various noted public men. More than twenty largo cities in America have paid special attention to the use of firearms by criminals. Mr. N. D. Baker, a former Secretary of War, asked whether the police commissioners knew of any cases of citizens having really helped themselves by using pistols in self-protection. The answer was unanimously in the negative. Among suggestions made , for curbing the distribution of arms were, the imposition of a, 200 per cent. • tax on all machine-guns sold by American manufacturers, and a Federal embargo on the importation of such weapons except by the Government; prohibition of the use of the mails for sending arms; prompt trials of and drastic and certain punishment for gun-carriers; the manufacture and sale of all arms under Federal supervision; the keeping of records of every gun manufactured from the time it is made to the moment it is sold; the deportation of aliens found carrying arms, Mr, F. 0. Lowden, formerly Governor of Illinois, laid stress on the punitive phase of crime-control. He quoted figures to show that from 50 to 90 per cent, of crimes were' inadequately punished. Police officials stated that machine-guns were the newest and most effective weapon of the American gunman. They were now being sold Openly by ostensibly reputable dealers in sporting goods and hardware. In certain States political influence was used to obtain permits for criminals to carry'firearms.