The Modern Pistol and How to Shoot It Part 51

[Ill.u.s.tration: DIAGRAM 6. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE.

Ten shots at 20 yards, at South London Rifle Club, July 3, 1888; Smith & Wesson .32 break-down model. Black powder.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: DIAGRAM 7. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. TWENTY YARDS DISAPPEARING TARGET.

"Military" target, Wimbledon, 1888; .45 Smith & Wesson Revolver. Eley's ammunition. Black powder. (Full size.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: DIAGRAM 8. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. TWENTY YARDS DISAPPEARING TARGET.

North London Rifle Club, May 29, 1895; .45 Smith & Wesson Revolver, U. M.

C. ammunition. Black powder. (Full size.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: DIAGRAM 9. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. TWENTY YARDS DISAPPEARING TARGET.

"Any" Revolver, Bisley, 1896; .45 Smith & Wesson Revolver, U. M. C.

ammunition. Black powder. (Full size.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: DIAGRAM 10. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. SIX SHOTS IN 12 SECONDS.

"Any" Revolver, Bisley, 1895. Rapid firing; .44 Smith & Wesson Revolver, U. M. C. gallery ammunition. Black powder. (Full size.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: DIAGRAM 11. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE FOR MILITARY REVOLVER AND SIGHTS.

Bisley, 1895. Six shots in 12 seconds at 20 yards; .45 Smith & Wesson Revolver, U. M. C. ammunition. Black powder. (Full size.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: DIAGRAM 12. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. TWENTY YARDS RAPID-FIRING TARGET.

Bisley, 1895. .45 Smith & Wesson Military Revolver, Winans sights. U. M.

C. smokeless ammunition. Black powder. (Full size.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: DIAGRAM 13. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. FOR 3-INCH BULL'S-EYE TRAVERSING TARGET, 20 YARDS.

Wimbledon, 1888; .45 Smith & Wesson Revolver, Eley ammunition. Black powder. (Full size.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: DIAGRAM 14. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE. FOR 2-INCH BULL'S-EYE TRAVERSING TARGET, 20 YARDS.

Bisley, 1896. .45 Smith & Wesson Revolver, U. M. C. ammunition. Black powder. (Full size.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: DIAGRAM 15. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE ADVANCING TARGET.

"Any" Revolver, Bisley, 1896; .44 Smith & Wesson Revolver, U. M. C.

gallery ammunition. Black powder. Target advanced from 50 yards to 20 yards. (Full size.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: DIAGRAM 16. AUTHOR'S WORLD'S RECORD SCORE FIFTY YARDS TARGET.

Bisley, 1894. Twelve consecutive shots: Six with .44 Smith & Wesson Revolver, six with .38 Smith & Wesson Revolver. Smith & Wesson self-lubricating bullet. Black powder. (Half size.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: DIAGRAM 17. TWELVE HIGHEST POSSIBLE SCORES MADE BY THE AUTHOR IN REVOLVER COMPEt.i.tIONS AT 20 YARDS IN 1895.

English regulation mark ammunition. Black powder. The diameter of the original bull's-eye is 2 inches.]

APPENDIX B

THE LAW RELATING TO REVOLVERS AND REVOLVER SHOOTING IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND

It is perhaps advisable to explain something about the right of carrying revolvers in England, and the using them in cases of necessity, and first it should be explained that a revolver is a gun so far as the Gun License Act of 1870 (33 and 34 Vict. c. 57) is concerned, and that a license fee of 10/ per annum has to be paid for the privilege of carrying or using one, though a license to kill game includes the lesser gun license. In fact it has ever been held that a small toy pocket pistol is a firearm for the purpose of the Act. There are various exceptions to the necessity of taking out this license, and it may be as well to enumerate them, especially as many people keep revolvers in their houses and would be astonished if they thought that a gun license was necessary for the so doing--but it is not, so long as the revolver is kept or used in a dwelling house, or the curtilage of a dwelling house. This is one of the exceptions to the Act, and a very proper and necessary exception it is, for it would be most unreasonable to enact that the mere keeping a revolver for the purposes of protection should compel one to take out an annual license. Moreover the enforcement of such a restriction would be almost impossible without an inquisitorial search through every house.

Probably because there is very little reason for carrying a revolver about with one in this country the exception does not apply to the so doing, and the mere taking a revolver across the street would technically compel the taking out a license. The curtilage of a house is much the same as its courtyard, and would no doubt include a yard and garden adjoining the house, but not a field beyond.

Further exceptions are that no penalty is to be incurred by any person in the naval, military, or volunteer service, or in the constabulary or other police force, but it should be noted that this exception applies only where the person claiming it is in the performance of a duty or in target practice, so that the policeman or volunteer off duty would still be subject to the obligation of having a license.

Another exception is that of any one carrying a firearm belonging to a person having a license or certificate to kill game or having a gun license, if he is carrying it by order of, or for the use of, such licensed or certificated person, only he is bound to give his name and address and the name and address of his employer if called upon.

The occupier of lands using or carrying a firearm for the purpose only of scaring birds or killing vermin on such lands is exempt too, as also any one using or carrying a firearm for the same purpose on any lands by order of the occupier, if the latter has a game license or certificate, or a gun license. Again, a gunsmith or his servant carrying a firearm in the ordinary course of trade, or testing it in a special place, need not have a license.

Lastly, a common carrier carrying a revolver in the ordinary course of business is exempt.

To show how strict the law is, it may be added that the killing of vermin, which, as above mentioned, is allowed without a license does not include rabbits.

As the penalty is 10 for carrying firearms without a license, I have thought it advisable to enlarge somewhat fully on the above topic.

There are also various penalties and punishments which may be imposed upon persons misbehaving while in the possession of loaded firearms, or wantonly discharging them. Thus any one who is in possession of a loaded firearm and is found to be drunk, may be apprehended, and is liable to a penalty not exceeding 40/, or, in the discretion of the Court, to imprisonment with or without hard labour for not more than one month.

Then, any person who in the streets of a town wantonly discharges any firearm to the obstruction, annoyance, or danger of the residents or pa.s.sengers, is liable to a penalty not exceeding 40/ for each offence, or, in the discretion of the justices, to imprisonment for not more than fourteen days (no hard labour).

It is hardly necessary to say that the wrongful use of a revolver as an offensive weapon is very heavily punished, it being provided that any one who shoots at a person or attempts, by drawing a trigger or in any other manner, to discharge any kind of loaded arms at a person with intent to commit murder, is guilty of felony and liable to penal servitude for life, or any less term, or to imprisonment for not more than two years with or without hard labour and solitary confinement.

Again, any one who unlawfully and maliciously wounds, or causes any grievous bodily harm to any person, or who shoots at any person, or who by drawing a trigger or in any other manner attempts to discharge any kind of loaded arms at a person, with intent in any of these cases to maim, disfigure, or disable any person, or to do some other grievous bodily harm to any person, or with intent to resist or prevent the lawful apprehension or detainer of any person, is liable to penal servitude for life or for not less than three years or to imprisonment for not more than two years with or without hard labour and solitary confinement. "Loaded arms" are defined as "any gun, pistol, or other arms which shall be loaded in the barrel with gunpowder or any other explosive substance, and ball, shot, slug, or other destructive material, although the attempt to discharge the same may fail for want of proper priming, or from any other cause."

Finally, any one who unlawfully and maliciously wounds or inflicts any grievous bodily harm upon any person with or without any weapon or instrument, is liable to penal servitude for three years, or to imprisonment for not more than two years with or without hard labour. The words "unlawfully and maliciously" are difficult to construe, and therefore it may be well to state that a man who fired in the direction of a punt, in order to deter the occupant from fowling in a particular locality, and wounded him in so doing, was convicted of malicious wounding; and generally that if a wound were to be caused mischievously and without excuse the person who inflicted it would probably be found guilty under this enactment.

So much for the strict offences caused by the improperly carrying or making use of revolvers. Before, however, leaving this subject it will be advisable to enter at a little length into the rights which any one has of using a revolver in self-defence, or in some other a.n.a.logous manner.

Supposing a man has pa.s.sed through the ordeal of the Gun License Act and is properly and legally carrying a loaded revolver, in what cases of emergency would he be justified in using it? Well, this is a very difficult question to answer, and one which in each event would depend entirely on the circ.u.mstances of the particular case. It is therefore impossible for me to lay down any exact principles governing every event of the kind which might happen, and I will content myself with stating a few hypothetical instances and what course of conduct might be adopted in each instance.

There is no doubt on this point, anyhow,--that one is justified in using a loaded revolver in self-defence, where an attack of such a murderous character is made as to threaten one's own existence, or the infliction of serious bodily harm; and, if the a.s.sailant should be killed, yet the using of the revolver and so disposing of him would be deemed as having been justifiable. The same rule would apply to shooting an a.s.sa.s.sin who was attempting to kill someone else. For instance, if while standing on a railway platform I were to see a man shooting at someone in a railway carriage, and at such distance that I could not actively interfere except by shooting, I should be right in firing at the a.s.sailant, and though my shot should prove fatal, still no blame could be attached to me.