1911 was a good year for guns. It was also a bad year for gun rights, as the first BIG anti-gun law dates from that year.
New York's Sullivan Act.
Like most all gun control schemes, the Sullivan Act had its roots in racism and nativism. But it leaned toward nativism. Too many Southern European immigrants were walking around strapped in the city, apparently, and Tammany Hall had to DO something about that. Plus it allowed corrupt politicians to give out special favors (gun permits) to political cronies.
Also, they were using those Break Tops to take each other out in their Mob, .....errr "Political Discourses" on Who could Control What on the streets and in the wards. And Big Tim Sullivan wasn't about to allow HIS Gang of Thugs to be shot up by the Opposition, nosiree Bob!
ReplyDeleteI read that one of Sullivan's "not-friends" had his pants pockets sewn shut so that someone couldn't drop a little something in there and then "discover" it.
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