The Racist Origins of US Gun Control

Laws Designed To Disarm Slaves, Freedmen, And African-Americans

by Steve Ekwall

OVE V!E"
Before the Civil War ended, State "Slave Codes" prohibited slaves from o ning guns! "fter #resident $incoln issued the %mancipation #roclamation in &'(), and after the Thirteenth "mendment to the U!S! Constitution abolishing slaver* as adopted and the Civil War ended in &'(+, States persisted in prohibiting blac,s, no freemen, from o ning guns under la s renamed "Blac, Codes!" The* did so on the basis that blac,s ere not citi-ens, and thus did not have the same rights, including the right to ,eep and bear arms protected in the Second "mendment to the U!S! Constitution, as hites! This vie as specificall* articulated b* the U!S! Supreme Court in its infamous &'+.

decision in /red Scott v! Sandford to uphold slaver*! The United States Congress overrode most portions of the Blac, Codes b* passing the Civil Rights "ct of &'((! The legislative histories of both the Civil Rights "ct and the 0ourteenth "mendment, as ell as The Special Report of the "nti1Slaver* Conference of &'(., are replete ith denunciations of those particular statutes that denied blac,s e2ual access to firearms! 34ates, "5andgun #rohibition and the Original 6eaning of the Second "mendment," '7 6ich! $! Rev! 789, 7+( :&;')<= 5o ever, faciall* neutral disarming through economic means la s remain in effect! "fter the adoption of the 0ourteenth "mendment to the U!S! Constitution in &'.', most States turned to "faciall* neutral" business or transaction ta>es on handgun purchases! 5o ever, the intention of these la s as not neutral! "n article in ?irginia@s official

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universit* la revie called for a "prohibitive ta>!!!on the privilege" of selling handguns as a a* of disarming "the son of 5am," hose "co ardl* practice of @toting@ guns has been one of the most fruitful sources of crime!!!! $et a negro board a railroad train ith a 2uart of mean his,e* and a pistol in his grip and the chances are that there ill be a murder, or at least a ro , before he alights!" 3Comment, Carr*ing Concealed Weapons, &+ ?a $! Reg! );&, );&1;7 :&;8;<A George 6ason Universit* Civil Rights $a Bournal :G6U CR $B<, ?ol! 7, Co! &, "Gun Control and Racism," Stefan Tahmassebi, &;;&, p! .+= Thus, man* Southern States imposed high ta>es or banned ine>pensive guns so as to price blac,s and poor hites out of the gun mar,et!

Sam#le Slave $odes, %lack $odes, Economic-%ased &'n %ans (sed To )revent T*e Arming Of African Americans, +,-.-+//0 D%"R BURES/ECTEOC ST"TUT% FFFF FFFFFFFFFFFF FFFFFFF &(98 ?irginia Race1based total gun and self1defense ban! "#rohibiting negroes, slave and free, from carr*ing eapons including clubs!" :The $os "ngeles Times, "To 0ight Crime, Some Blac,s "ttac, Gun Control," Banuar* &;, &;;7< &(98 ?irginia Race1based total gun ban! "That all such free 6ulattoes, Cegroes and Endians!!!shall appear ithout arms!" 3. The Statues at $argeA Being a Collection of all the $a s of ?irginia, from the 0irst Session of the $egislature, in the Dear &(&;, p! ;+ :W!W! 5enning ed! &'7)<!= :G6U CR $B, p! (.< &.&7 ?irginia Race1based total gun ban! ""n "ct for #reventing Cegroes Ensurrections!" :5enning, p! 9'&< :G6U CR $B, p! .8<

&.&7 South Carolina Race1based total gun ban! ""n act for the better ordering and governing of Cegroes and slaves!" 3. Statutes at $arge of South Carolina, p! )+)1+9 :/!B! 6cCord ed! &')(1&'.)<!= :G6U CR $B, p! .8< &.;& United States 7nd "mendment to the U!S! Constitution ratified! ReadsG "" ell regulated 6ilitia, being necessar* to the securit* of a free State, the right of the people to ,eep and bear "rms, shall not be infringed!" &.;7 United States Blac,s e>cluded from the militia, i!e! la 1abiding males thus instilled ith the right to o n guns! Uniform 6ilitia "ct of &.;7 "called for the enrollment of ever* free, able1bodied hite male citi-en bet een the ages of eighteen and fort*1five" to be in the militia, and specified that ever* militia member as to "provide himself ith a mus,et or fireloc,, a ba*onet, and ammunition!" 3& Stat! 7.& :Georgeto n $a Bournal, ?ol! '8, Co! 7, "The Second "mendmentG To ard an "fro1"mericanist Reconsideration," Robert Cottrol and Ra*mond /iamond, &;;&, p! ))&<= &'8( $ouisiana Complete gun and self1defense ban for slaves! Blac, Code, ch! )), Sec! &;, $a s of $a! &+8, &(8 :&'8(< provided that a slave as denied the use of firearms and all other offensive eapons! :G$B, p! )).< &'&& $ouisiana Complete gun ban for slaves! "ct of "pril ', &'&&, ch! &9, &'&& $a s of $a! +8, +)1+9, forbade sale or deliver* of firearms to slaves! :Ed!< &'&; South Carolina 6aster@s permission re2uired for gun possession b* slave! "ct of /ec! &', &'&;, &'&; "cts of S!C! 7', )&, prohibited slaves outside the compan* of hites or ithout ritten permission from their master from using or carr*ing firearms unless the* ere hunting or guarding the master@s plantation! :Ed!<

&'7+ 0lorida Slave and free blac, homes searched for guns for confiscation! ""n "ct to Govern #atrols," &'7+ "cts of 0la! +7, ++ 1 Section ' provided that hite citi-en patrols "shall enter into all negro houses and suspected places, and search for arms and other offensive or improper eapons, and ma* la full* sei-e and ta,e a a* all such arms, eapons, and ammunition!!!!" Section ; provided that a slave might carr* a firearm under this statute either b* means of the ee,l* rene able license or if "in the presence of some hite person!" :Ed!< &'7' 0lorida 0ree blac,s permitted to carr* guns if court approval! "ct of Cov! &., &'7' Sec! ;, &'7' 0la! $a s &.9, &..A "ct of Ban! &7, &'7', Sec! ;, &'7. 0la! $a s ;., &88 1 0lorida ent bac, and forth on the 2uestion of licenses for free blac,sA t ice in &'7', 0lorida enacted provisions providing for free blac,s to carr* and use firearms upon obtaining a license from a Hustice of the peace! :Ed!< &')& 0lorida Race1based total gun ban! "ct of Ban! &')&, &')& 0la! $a s )8 1 0lorida repealed all provision for firearm licenses for free blac,s! :Ed! p! )).1)'< &')& /ela are 0ree blac,s permitted to carr* guns if court approval! En the /ecember &')& legislative session, /ela are re2uired free blac,s desiring to carr* firearms to obtain a license from a Hustice of the peace! 3:5erbert "pthe,er, Cat Turner@s Slave Rebellion, p! .91.+ :&;((<!= :G$B, p! ))'< &')& 6ar*land Race1based total gun ban! En the /ecember &')& legislative session, 6ar*land entirel* prohibited free blac,s from carr*ing arms! :"pthe,er, p! .+< :Ed!, p! ))'< &')& ?irginia Race1based total gun ban! En the /ecember &')& legislative session, ?irginia entirel* prohibited free blac,s from carr*ing arms! :"pthe,er, p! '&< :Ed!, p! ))'<

&')) 0lorida Slave and free blac, homes searched for guns for confiscation! "ct of 0eb! &., &')), ch! (.&, Sec! &+, &., &')) 0la! $a s 7(, 7; authori-ed hite citi-en patrols to sei-e arms found in the homes of slaves and free blac,s, and provided that blac,s ithout a proper e>planation for the presence of the firearms be summaril* punished, ithout benefit of a Hudicial tribunal! :Ed! p! ))'< &')) Georgia Race1based total gun ban! "ct of /ec! 7), &')), Sec! ., &')) Ga! $a s 77(, 77' declared that "it shall not be la ful for an* free person of colour in this state, to o n, use, or carr* fire arms of an* description hatever!" :Ed!< &'98 0lorida Complete gun ban for slaves! "ct of 0eb! 7+, &'98, no! 78, Sec! &, &'98 "cts of 0la! 7717) made sale or deliver* of firearms to slaves forbidden! :Ed! p! )).< &'98 Te>as Complete gun ban for slaves! ""n "ct Concerning Slaves," Sec! (, &'98 $a s of Te>! &.&, &.7, ch! +' of the Te>as "cts of &'+8 prohibited slaves from using firearms altogether from &'971&'+8! :Bournal of Criminal $a and Criminolog*, Corth estern Universit*, ?ol! '+, Co! ), "Gun Control and %conomic /iscriminationG The 6elting1#oint Case1En1#oint," T! 6ar,us 0un,, &;;+, p! .;.<

&'99 Corth Carolina Race1based gun ban upheld because free blac,s "not citi-ens!" En State v! Ce som, 7. C!C! 7+8 :&'99<, the Supreme Court of Corth Carolina upheld a Slave Code la prohibiting free blac,s from carr*ing firearms on the grounds that the* ere not citi-ens! :G6U CR $B, p! .8< &'9+ Corth Carolina Complete gun ban for slaves! "ct of Ban! &, &'9+, ch! '., Sec! &, 7, &'9+ "cts of C!C! &79 made sale or deliver* of firearms to slaves forbidden! :G$B, p! )).< &'9. 0lorida Slave and free blac, homes searched for guns for confiscation! "ct of Ban! (, &'9., ch! '. Sec! &&, &'9( 0la! $a s 97, 99 provided that hite citi-en patrols might search the homes of blac,s, both free and slave and confiscate arms held therein! :Ed! p!

))'< &'9' Georgia Race1based gun ban upheld because free blac,s "not citi-ens!" En Cooper v! Savannah, 9 Ga! (', .7 :&'9'<, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled "free persons of color have never been recogni-ed here as citi-ensA the* are not entitled to bear arms, vote for members of the legislature, or to hold an* civil office!" :G6U CR $B, p! .8< &'+7 6ississippi Race1based complete gun ban! "ct of 6ar! &+, &'+7, ch! 78(, &'+7 $a s of 6iss! )7' forbade o nership of firearms b* both free blac,s and slaves! :BC$C CWU, p! .;.< &'+. United States 5igh Court upholds slaver* since blac,s "not citi-ens!" En /red Scott v! Sandford, (8 U!S! :&; 5o !< );) :&'+.<, Chief Bustice Tane* argued if members of the "frican race ere "citi-ens" the* ould be e>empt from the special "police regulations" applicable to them! "Et ould give to persons of the negro race!!!full libert* of speech!!!to hold public meetings upon political affairs, and to ,eep and carr* arms herever the* ent!" :Ed! p! 9&.< U!S! Supreme Court held that descendants of "fricans ho ere imported into this countr* and sold as slaves ere not included nor intended to be included under the ord "citi-ens" in the Constitution, hether emancipated or not, and remained ithout rights or privileges e>cept such as those hich the government might grant them, thereb* upholding slaver*! "lso held that a slave did not become free hen ta,en into a free stateA that Congress cannot bar slaver* in an* territor*A and that blac,s could not be citi-ens! &'(8 Georgia Complete gun ban for slaves! "ct of /ec! &;, &'(8, no! (9, Sec! &, &'(8 "cts of Ga! +(& forbade sale or deliver* of firearms to slaves! :G$B, p! )).< &'(& United States Civil War begins!

&'(& 0lorida Slave and free blac, homes searched for guns for confiscation! "ct of /ec! &., &'(&, ch! &7;&, Sec! &&, &'(& 0la! $a s )', 98 provided once again that hite citi-en patrols might search the homes of blac,s, both free and slave, and confiscate arms held therein! :Ed! p! ))'< &'() United States %mancipation #roclamation 11 #resident $incoln issued proclamation "freeing all slaves in areas still in rebellion!" &'(+ 6ississippi Blac,s re2uire police approval to o n guns, unless in militar*! 6ississippi Statute of &'(+ prohibited blac,s, not in the militar* "and not licensed so to do b* the board of police of his or her count*" from ,eeping or carr*ing "fire1arms of an* ,ind, or an* ammunition, dir, or bo ie ,nife!" 3reprinted in & /ocumentar* 5istor* of ReconstructionG #olitical, 6ilitar*, Social, Religious, %ducational and Endustrial, &'(+ to the #resent Time, p! 7;&, :Walter $! 0leming, ed!, &;(8!<= :G$B, p! )99< &'(+ $ouisiana Blac,s re2uire police and emplo*er approval to o n guns, unless serving in militar*! $ouisiana Statute of &'(+ prohibited blac,s, not in the militar* service, from "carr*ing fire1arms, or an* ,ind of eapons!!! ithout the special permission of his emplo*ers, approved and indorsed b* the nearest and most convenient chief of patrol!" :0leming, p! 7'8<:G$B, p! )99< &'(+ United States Civil War ends 6a* 7(! &'(+ United States Slaver* abolished as of /ec! &', &'(+! &)th "mendment abolishing slaver* as ratified! ReadsG "Section &! Ceither slaver* nor involuntar* servitude, e>cept as a punishment for crime hereof the part* shall have been dul* convicted, shall e>ist ithin the United States, or in an* place subHect to their Hurisdiction! Section 7! Congress shall have po er to enforce this article b* appropriate legislation!"

&'(( "labama Race1based total gun ban! Blac, Code of "labama in Banuar* &'(( prohibited blac,s to o n or carr* firearms or other deadl* eapons and prohibited "an* person to sell, give, or lend fire1arms or ammunition of an* description hatever" to an* blac,! 3The Reconstruction "mendments@ /ebates, p! 78;, :"lfred "vins ed!, &;(.<= :G$B, p! )9+< &'(( Corth Carolina Rights of blac,s can be changed b* legislature! Corth Carolina Blac, Code, ch! 98, &'(( C!C! Sess! $a s ;; stated ""ll persons of color ho are no inhabitants of this state shall be entitled to the same privileges, and are subHect to the same burdens and disabilities, as b* the la s of the state ere conferred on, or ere attached to, free persons of color, prior to the ordinance of emancipation, e>cept as the same ma* be changed b* la !" :"vins, p! 7;&!< :G$B, p! )99< &'(( United States Civil Rights "ct of &'(( enacted! CR" of &'(( did a a* ith badges of slaver* embodied in the "Blac, Codes," including those provisions hich "prohibit an* negro or mulatto from having fire1arms!" 3COCG! G$OB%, );th Congress, &st Session, pt! &, 9.9 :7; Ban! &'((<= Senator William Saulsbur* :/1 /el< added "En m* State for man* *ears!!!there has e>isted a la !!! hich declares that free negroes shall not have the possession of firearms or ammunition! This bill proposes to ta,e a a* from the States this police po er!!!" and thus voted against the bill! CR" of &'(( as a precursor to toda*@s 97 USC Sec!&;'7, a portion of hich still readsG ""ll citi-ens of the United States shall have the same right, in ever* state and territor*, as is enHo*ed b* hite citi-ens thereof to inherit, purchase, lease, sell, hold and conve* real and personal propert*!"

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&'(( United States #roposed &9th "mendment to U!S! Constitution debated! Opponents of the &9th "mendment obHected to its adoption because the* opposed federal enforcement of the freedoms in the bill of rights! Sen! Thomas "! 5endric,s :/1End!< said "if this amendment be adopted e ill then carr* the title 3of citi-enship= and enHo* its advantages in common ith the negroes, the coolies, and the Endians!" 3COCG! G$OB%, );th Congress, &st Session, pt! ), 7;); :9 Bune &'((<=! Sen! Reverd* Bohnson, counsel for the slave o ner in /red Scott, opposed the amendment because "it is 2uite obHectionable to provide that @no State shall ma,e or enforce an* la hich shall abridge the privileges and immunities of citi-ens of the United States@!" Thus, the &9th "mendment as vie ed as necessar* to buttress the Civil Rights "ct of &'((, especiall* since the act "is pronounced void b* the Hurists and courts of the South," e!g! 0lorida has as "a misdemeanor for colored men to carr* eapons!!!and the punishment!!!is hipping!!!" 3COCG G$OB%, );th Con!, &st Session, +89, pt! 9, )7&8 :&( Bune &'((<=! &'(( United States 4lu 4lu> 4lan formed! #urpose as to terrori-e blac,s ho votedA temporaril* disbanded in &'.&A reestablished in &;&+! En debating hat ould become 97 USC Sec! &;'), toda*@s federal civil rights statute, Representative Butler e>plained "This provision seemed to *our committee to be necessar*, because the* had observed that, before these midnight marauders 3the 444= made attac,s upon peaceful citi-ens, there ere ver* man* instances in the South here the sheriff of the count* had preceded them and ta,en a a* the arms of their victims! This as especiall* noticeable in Union Count*, here all the negro population ere disarmed b* the sheriff onl* a fe months ago under the order of the Hudge!!!A and then, the sheriff having disarmed the citi-ens, the five hundred mas,ed men rode at nights and murdered and other ise maltreated the ten persons ho ere in Hail in that count*!" 3&9(9 5!R! R%#! Co! )., 9&st Cong!, )rd Sess! p! .1' :78 0eb! &'.&<=

&'(. United States The Special Report of the "nti1Slaver* Conference of &'(.! Report noted ith particular emphasis that under the Blac, Codes, blac,s ere "forbidden to o n or bear firearms, and thus ere rendered defenseless against assaults!" :Reprinted in 5! 5*man, The Radical Republicans and Reconstruction, p! 7&;, &;(.!< :G6U CR $B, p! .&< &'(' United States &9th "mendment to the U!S! Constitution adopted, conve*ing citi-enship to blac,s! Reads, in partG "Section &! "ll persons born or naturali-ed in the United States, and subHect to the Hurisdiction thereof, are citi-ens of the United States and of the State herein the* reside! Co state shall ma,e or enforce an* la hich shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citi-ens of the United StatesA nor shall an* State deprive an* person of life, libert*, or propert*, ithout due process of la A nor den* to an* person ithin its Hurisdiction the e2ual protection of the la s! "Section +! The Congress shall have po er to enforce, b* appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article!"

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&'.8 Tennessee 0irst "Saturda* Cight Special" economic handgun ban passed! En the first legislative session in hich the* gained control, hite supremacists passed ""n "ct to #reserve the #eace and #revent 5omicide," hich banned the sale of all handguns e>cept the e>pensive ""rm* and Cav* model handgun" hich hites alread* o ned or could afford to bu*, and blac,s could not! :"Gun ControlG White 6an@s $a ," William R! Tonso, Reason, /ecember &;'+< Upheld in "ndre s v! State, +8 Tenn! :) 5eis,!< &(+, &.7 :&'.&< :G6U CR $B, p! .9< "The cheap revolvers of the late &;th and earl* 78th centuries ere referred to as @Suicide Specials,@ the @Saturda* Cight Special@ label not becoming idespread until reformers and politicians too, up the gun control cause during the &;(8s! The source of this recent concern about cheap revolvers, as their ne label suggest, has much in common ith the concerns of the gun1la initiators of the post1Civil War South! "s B! Bruce1Briggs has ritten in the #ublic Enterest, IEt is difficult to escape the conclusion that the @Saturda* Cight Special@ is emphasi-ed because it is cheap and being sold to a particular class of people! The name is sufficient evidence 11 the reference is to @niggerto n Saturda* night!@" :"Gun ControlG White 6an@s $a ," William R! Tonso, Reason, /ecember &;'+< &'.& United States "nti1444 Bill debated in response to race1motivated violence in South! " report on violence in the South resulted in an anti1444 bill that stated "That hoever shall, ithout due process of la , b* violence, intimidation, or threats, ta,e a a* or deprive an* citi-en of the United States of an* arms or eapons he ma* have in his house or possession for the defense of his person, famil*, or propert*, shall be deemed guilt* of a larcen* thereof, and be punished as provided in this act for a felon*!" 3&9(9 5!R! R%#! Co! )., 9&st Cong!, )rd Sess! p! .1' :78 0eb! &'.&<=! Since Congress doesn@t have Hurisdiction over simple larcen*, the language as removed from the anti1444 bill, but this section survives toda* as 97 USC Sec! &;')G "That an* person ho, under color of an* la ,!!!of an* State, shall subHect, or cause to be subHected, an* person!!! to the deprivation of an* rights, privileges, or immunities to hich!!!he is entitled under the Constitution!!!shall be liable!!!in an* action at la !!!for redress!!!"!

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&'.+ United States 5igh Court rules has no po er to stop 444 members from disarming blac,s! En United States v! Crui,shan,, ;7 U!S! at +9'1+; :&'.+< " member of the 444, Crui,shan, had been charged ith violating the rights of t o blac, men to peaceabl* assemble and to bear arms! The U!S! Supreme Court held that the federal government had no po er to protect citi-ens against private action :not committed b* federal or state government authorities< that deprived them of their constitutional rights under the &9th "mendment! The Court held that for protection against private criminal action, individuals are re2uired to loo, to state governments! "The doctrine in Crui,shan,, that blac,s ould have to loo, to state government for protection against criminal conspiracies gave the green light to private forces, often ith the assistance of state and local governments, that sought to subHugate the former slaves and their descendants!!! With the protective arm of the federal government ithdra n, protection of blac, lives and propert* as left to largel* hostile state governments!" :G$B, p! )9'!< &'.; Tennessee Second "Saturda* Cight Special" economic handgun ban passed! Tennessee revamped its economic handgun ban nine *ears later, passing ""n "ct to #revent the Sale of #istols," hich as upheld in State v! Burgo*ne, .+ Tenn! &.), &.9 :&''&<! :G6U CR $B, p! .9< &''7 "r,ansas Third "Saturda* Cight Special" economic handgun ban passed! "r,ansas follo ed Tennessee@s lead b* enacting a virtuall* identical "Saturda* Cight Special" la banning the sale of an* pistols other than e>pensive "arm* or nav*" model revolvers, hich most hites had or could afford, thereb* disarming blac,s! Statute as upheld in /abbs v! State, ); "r,! )+) :&''7< :G6U CR $B, p! .9<

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&';) "labama 0irst all1gun economic ban passed! "labama placed "@e>tremel* heav* business andJor transactional ta>es@" on the sale of handguns in an attempt "to put handguns out of the reach of blac,s and poor hites!" :"Gun ControlG White 6an@s $a ," William R! Tonso, Reason, /ecember &;'+< &;87 South Carolina 0irst total civilian handgun ban! The state banned all pistol sales e>cept to sheriffs and their special deputies, hich included the 444 and compan* strongmen! :4ates, "To ard a 5istor* of 5andgun #rohibition in the United States" in Restricting 5andgunsG The $iberal S,eptics Spea, Out, p! &+, &;.;!< :G6U CR $B, p! .(< &;8( 6ississippi Race1based confiscation through record1,eeping! 6ississippi enacted the first registration la for retailers in &;8(, re2uiring them to maintain records of all pistol and pistol ammunition sales, and to ma,e such records available for inspection on demand! :4ates, p! &9< :G6U CR $B, p! .+< &;8. Te>as 0ourth "Saturda* Cight Special" economic handgun ban! #laced "@e>tremel* heav* business andJor transactional ta>es@" on the sale of handguns in an attempt "to put handguns out of the reach of blac,s and poor hites!" :"Gun ControlG White 6an@s $a ," William R! Tonso, Reason, /ecember &;'+<

&;&& Ce Dor, #olice choose ho can o n guns la full*! "Sullivan $a " enacted, re2uiring police permission, via a permit issued at their discretion, to o n a handgun! Unpopular minorities ere and are routinel* denied permits! :"Gun ControlG White 6an@s $a ," William R! Tonso, Reason, /ecember &;'+< ":T<here are onl* about ),888 permits in Ce Dor, Cit*, and 7+,888 carr* permits! Ef *ou@re a street1corner grocer in 6anhattan, good luc, getting a gun permit! But among those ho have been able to rangle a precious carr* permit out of the cit*@s bureaucrac* are /onald Trump, "rthur Ochs Sul-burger, William Buc,le*, Br!, and /avid, Bohn, $a rence and Winthrop Roc,efeller! Surprise!" :Terrance 6oran, "Racism and the 0irearms 0irestorm," $egal Times<

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&;)9 United States Gun Control "ct of &;)9 :Cational 0irearms "ct< passed! &;9& 0lorida Budge admits gun la passed to disarm blac, laborers! En concurring opinion narro l* construing a 0lorida gun control la passed in &';), Bustice Buford stated the &';) la " as passed hen there as a great influ> of negro laborers in this State!!!!The same condition e>isted hen the "ct as amended in &;8& and the "ct as passed for the purpose of disarming the negro laborers!!!!The statute as never intended to be applied to the hite population and in practice has never been so applied!!!"! Watson v! Stone, &9' 0la! +&(, +79, 9 So!7d .88, .8) :&;9&< :G6U CR $B, p! (;< &;(' United States Gun Control "ct of &;(' passed! "vo ed anti1gun Hournalist Robert Sherrill fran,l* admitted that the Gun Control "ct of &;(' as "passed not to control guns but to control Blac,s!" 3R! Sherrill, The Saturda* Cight Special, p! 7'8 :&;.7<!= :G6U CR $B, p! '8< "The Gun Control "ct of &;(' as passed not to control guns but to control blac,s, and inasmuch as a maHorit* of Congress did not ant to do the former but ere ashamed to sho that their goal as the latter, the result as the* did neither! Endeed, this la , the first gun1control la passed b* Congress in thirt* *ears, as one of the grand Ho,es of our time! 0irst of all, bear in mind that it as not passed in one piece but as a combination of t o la s! The original &;(' "ct as passed to control handguns after the Rev! 6artin $uther 4ing, Br!, had been assassinated ith a rifle! Then it as repealed and repassed to include the control of rifles and shotguns after the assassination of Robert 0! 4enned* ith a handgun!!!! The moralists of our federal legislature as ell as sentimental editorial riters insist that the "ct of &;(' as a ,ind of memorial to 4ing and Robert 4enned*! Ef so, it as certainl* a eird memorial, as can be seen not merel* b* the handgunJlong1gun shellgame, but from the inapplicabilit* of the la to their deaths!" :The Saturda* Cight Special and Other Guns, Robert Sherrill, p! 7'8, &;.7<

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&;'' 6ar*land 0ifth "Saturda* Cight Special" economic handgun ban passes! Ban on "Saturda* Cight Specials," i!e! ine>pensive handguns, passes! &;'' Ellinois #oor citi-ens singled out for gun ban in Ellinois! Starting in late &;'', the Chicago 5ousing "uthorit* :C5"< and the Chicago #olice /ept! :C#/< enacted and enforced an official polic*, Operation Clean S eep, hich applied to all housing units o ned and operated b* the C5"! The purpose as the confiscation of firearms and illegal narcotics and consisted of arrantless searches and of a visitor e>clusion polic* severel* limiting the right of C5" tenants to associate in their residences ith famil* members and other guests, tenants had to sign in and out of the building, producing to the police or C5" officials photo Ed! Relatives, including children and grandchildren, ere not allo ed to sta* over, even on holida*s! C5" tenants ho obHected or attempted to interfere ith these arrantless searches ere arrested! The "C$U filed a la suit see,ing declarator* and inHunctive relief on behalf of the C5" tenants against the enforcement of Operation Clean S eep! The complaint as filed in the United Sates /istrict Court for the Corthern /istrict of Ellinois, %astern /ivision, on /ec! &(, &;'', as Case Co! ''C&8+(( and is st*led as Rose Summeries, et al! v! Chicago 5ousing "uthorit*, et al! " consent decree as entered on Cov! )8, &;'; in hich the C5" and C#/ agreed to abide b* certain standards and in hich the scope and purposes of such "emergenc* housing inspections" ere limited! :G6U, p! ;'< &;;8 ?irginia #oor citi-ens singled out for gun ban in ?irginia! U!S! /istrict Court for the %astern /istrict of ?irginia upheld a ban imposed b* the Richmond 5ousing "uthorit* on the possession of all firearms, hether operable or not, in public housing proHects! The Richmond Tenants Organi-ation had challenged the ban, arguing that such re2uirement had made the cit*@s &9,888 public housing residents second1class citi-ens! 3Richmond Tenants Org! v! Richmond /ev! K 5ous! "uth!, Co! C!"! )G;8C?88+.( :%!/!?a! /ec! ), &;;8<!= :G6U, p! ;.<

&+

&;;9 United States #resident see,s to single out all poor citi-ens residing in federal housing for gun ban! The Clinton "dministration introduced 5!R! )')' in &;;9 to ban guns in federal public housing, but the 5ouse Ban,ing Committee reHected it! Similar legislation as filed in &;;9 in the Oregon and Washington state legislatures! &;;+ 6aine #oor citi-ens singled out for gun ban in 6aine! #ortland, 6%, gun ban in public housing struc, do n on "pril +, &;;+!

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