Letter from J. M. Blough to the National Law Enforcement Commission Requesting Legislation to Restrict the Purchase of Firearms

st to end 181 n' ev.ed LvoD sas norl a ISSO 1309 Franklin St., ,von and yow aldt rI erro ompe 05 31 ert Johnstown, Pa., .818 vedt qufw evad vor. aworal Sept. 10, 1939. 30 sl eno yos 20 ILa 10 absa el el crogsem ent bre besover al ald of sgellvirg std The National Law Enforcement Commission, RECEIVED JO algoeg bna morl Washington, D. C. SEP 12 1929 svad bluode yow rosões TITO bas NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LAW AND ENFOBCEMENT Gentlemen: salimite I understand that a committee has been appointed to study best the cause of crime. This is very important indeed, For their considera 380m tion I beg to present a few things: 1 I enclose the front cover page of one copy of "Short -steblezoo ries". I consider such pictures in our magazines and such stories which and other crimes constantly tell of shooting as a. most prolific source of crime, for the 1 young folks who see them and read the m are inspired to do the same. are 2. Moving Pictures ** another source of crime. This has been proven again and again. For in many moving pictures crime is displayed and often the hero is guilty of crime himself, and so children are led to believe it is smart to commit a crime and often the proper thing to do. These are two main causes of crime which could be largely eliminated by the following legislation: All pictures of crime are prohibited on the screen, advertis- ing posters, magazines and newspapers, etc. All stories told so as to condone crime or praise it should be positively forbidden. 3. The ease with which people in America can buy firearms and ammunition is the greatest cause of crime in America. Why should every one indiscriminately be allowed to have a weapon? I have lived for 25 years in India and with that large pop- ulation we do not have as many crimes in a year as some of our cities