The Forgotten NRA Leader Who Thought Carrying Guns Should Be ‘Sharply Restricted’
BY Herschel Smith
7 years, 1 month ago
In the early 1930s, with gangsters like John Dillinger mowing down his enemies with machine guns on the streets, Congress held hearings on a sweeping proposal to severely restrict firearm sales.
The testimony of one man — now totally forgotten — stood out.
“I have never believed in the general practice of carrying weapons,” said Karl T. Frederick, according to a transcript of the hearings. “I do not believe in the general promiscuous toting of guns. I think it should be sharply restricted and only under licenses.”
Well then, thank goodness he’s dead and unable to effect his gun control schemes any more. Remember this?
In the colonies, availability of hunting and need for defense led to armament statues comparable to those of the early Saxon times. In 1623, Virginia forbade its colonists to travel unless they were “well armed”; in 1631 it required colonists to engage in target practice on Sunday and to “bring their peeces to church.” In 1658 it required every householder to have a functioning firearm within his house and in 1673 its laws provided that a citizen who claimed he was too poor to purchase a firearm would have one purchased for him by the government, which would then require him to pay a reasonable price when able to do so. In Massachusetts, the first session of the legislature ordered that not only freemen, but also indentured servants own firearms and in 1644 it imposed a stern 6 shilling fine upon any citizen who was not armed.
The earlier NRA didn’t agree with the Christian heritage of our country, which was to carry all the time, everywhere.
On October 9, 2017 at 11:32 am, Pat Hines said:
The founding of the NRA, by former US army invaders of the south, was responsible for that statement and many others leading up to the GCA 1968. That last law was the inspiration of the hostile takeover of the NRA by pro-2nd Amendment activists such as the late Neal Knox.
On October 9, 2017 at 1:28 pm, Henry said:
For those lacking the historical background, you neglected to make it clear that Karl T. Frederick was the president of the NRA at that time.
http://www.keepandbeararms.com/NRA/NFA.htm
On October 9, 2017 at 6:22 pm, Joshua Smith said:
The early NRA was not the activist or lobbying group that we see in its current incarnation. As I understand it, the early NRA was more of a sporting club.
I’m perplexed at why Frederick was speaking to Congress on the issue at all, especially in 1934.