§ 76. Mr. BURTasked whether long-barrelled pistols, with cartridges of great projectile force, are being manufactured in Birmingham and recommended by public advertisement as evading the legal restrictions of the Pistols Act, because they differ from the legal definition of a pistol contained in that Act; whether he is aware that two children in a Durham village have been shot, at about 140 yards distance, by one of these long-barrelled pistols; whether his attention has been called to the fact that a youth of seventeen years of age is now in custody, charged with manslaughter, by reason of the use of one of these weapons; and what steps can be taken to protect the public against this evasion of the law?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am well aware of this defect in the Pistols Act, and I have received reports of the case referred to. The only remedy is an amendment of the law.
§ Mr. JAMES ROWLANDSWould the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries to see whether a Bill to increase the powers of (he Homo Office could not be brought before this House as a non-contentious matter?
§ Mr. McKENNAI will ask my hon. Friend the Patronage Secretary.
§ Mr. KINGWill the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the views of the hon. Baronet the Member for the City (Sir Frederick Banbury), and the hon. Member for Pontefract (Mr. Booth)?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes; my hon. Friend has mentioned two formidable authorities on the matter.