PEA-RIFLES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13207, 4 July 1906, Page 4

PEA-RIFLES.

.Coroners may give warnings ,;al- . most r daily, the ' Press may follow suit, but still deaths " occur with painfully, fluent regularity from the cars Jo*;, use of fire a rms. As a\ useless, andat the same tinic; eviden-tly, ono of the most dangerous weapons that has ever been introduced ( into this colony, the pea-iiHe tibout hclds . a nibst 'untmviable 1 lace, and it seerrjjs / that the iime is at hand when it should be seriously considered by .the authorities whether it would not be advisable to nidke it penal for ;any person to be found in possession; ot such a weapon without a license. At present boys of tender years roam around with these detestable toys to the danger not of them selves, . but the general public, and too frequently we hear of a foolish adult who "did not know that it was., loaded" killing or wounding someone/ Within ' the past three days, two accidents in whi^h pen rifles -Ijora a part have been reported. Yet many who f have • read of those cases will allow their boys to continue endangering the lives of the ptrblic, or will probably 'thonrselves .accidentally' discharge a weapon that "they did not think was loedeJ." If mi' example- were made of those who, through carelessness, become liable to a charge of manslaughter, it might have a deterrent effect, and in addition there should be legislation to prevent the altogether too free - use of a weapon wiiioh k'as brought _de- . solation into '.many ' a home. •