Justice Antonin Scalia Remembers When Toting a Rifle in New York was a Non-event

Gun Watch ^ | 1 April, 2014 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

Back before the big gun blogs existed, back before President Obama was elected, the AP ran a news article that showed how much the culture has been conditioned to fear firearms:

"I grew up at a time when people were not afraid of people with firearms," said Scalia, noting that as a youth in New York City he was part of a rifle team at the military school he attended.

"I used to travel on the subway from Queens to Manhattan with a rifle," he said. "Could you imagine doing that today in New York City?"

I have heard other reports of people carrying long guns openly in New York City in the 1950s, with no police being called, no schools being shut down, no panic, no problems.   Why was this so back then, but not now?

It is not the crime rate.   The crime rate now, after rising precipitously with more and more gun control, has dropped in half as restrictions on concealed carry have been eliminated and the number of private guns has doubled.   Multitudinous reasons have been speculated about for the drop, but the facts make blaming more guns for more crime more and more difficult.  The crime rate now is close to what it was in the 1950s.

A friend who was a competitive shooter at the time informed me the during the 1950s, university pistol team members kept pistols in their dorm rooms.  Even in the 1970's, I did the same, though I suspect that there were rules against it by then.   My housefellow knew about it, and at least tolerated it, if not approved of it.

I would like to learn of other instances of gun ownership that was deemed normal in urban areas during the 1950's.   Let us document those memories before we lose them.


©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
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[Jet Jaguar]

Bump

[bruoz]

In the mid 60s my high school ROTC company walked through the school hallways in street clothes with our M1 Garands all the time. My friends and I rode around town on our motorcycles with .22 rifles slung on our backs and no one gave us a second look. I really miss those days growing up in a free country.

[real saxophonist]

I had a snapping turtle as a pet for about a day and a half. It was decided pretty quickly that we should let him go.

And I'm with you about high school. Gun racks in the trucks, and Buck knives on the belt.

Somehow, nobody got stabbed or shot.

[campaignPete R-CT]

I am out the door at 6 a.m. for a special campaign event here in CT. A special state rep special election.

I’ve tried to quit, but cannot leave a conservative out there without support. We could win this one by 100 votes. The gun owners are the final holdouts, doing the serious work against the liberal CT onslaught which never ceases.

CT is in the midst of a stunning year. Dozens of legislators of both parties are announcing they are NOT seeking re-election. A true opportunity for new faces. Found out today there will be an open state house seat 2 miles from me and an open state Senate seat 2 miles in the other direction.

State Rep. Nafis Announces Retirement
http://articles.courant.com/2014-04-01/community/hc-newington-sandy-nafis-0402-20140401_1_nafis-national-welding-Newington

[Kickass Conservative]

n the late 50’s, my Brother took his .22 Rifle to School.

Nobody batted an eye when he walked to and from School. He had a really nice Leather Rifle Case.

He was in the Gin Club and they had a Target Range on Campus. I think it was in the Basement of the Gym.

[RKV]

The year is 1969, the place is San Luis Obispo, California, a junior high science teacher brings an M1 Garand* and live ammo to school for a lunchtime hunter safety class. No one gets hurt and kids learn gun safety. Note*: the M1 was missing its firing pin. I know because I asked the teacher (Mr. Juartena, who was a GREAT guy btw) and he showed me that the rifle was incapable of firing.

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

I grew up in NYC as well and remember having a Lone Ranger cap gun that looked real as heck and I would run all over the street shooting it off and people wouldn’t think twice. But of course this was long before the rise of the gangsta feral created from Marxist policies that obliterated the black family unit.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks marktwain.

> The crime rate now, after rising precipitously with more and more gun control, has dropped in half as restrictions on concealed carry have been eliminated and the number of private guns has doubled.

[TigersEye]

FTA:

It is not the crime rate. The crime rate now, after rising precipitously with more and more gun control, has dropped in half as restrictions on concealed carry have been eliminated and the number of private guns has doubled. Multitudinous reasons have been speculated about for the drop, but the facts make blaming more guns for more crime more and more difficult. The crime rate now is close to what it was in the 1950s.

[Doc91678]

I was thinking the same thing today. I once traveled from Washington DC to Penn Station NYC by train then by subway to Brooklyn carrying a duffel bag and a rifle on the 50’s. Could anyone do that today without being arrested? I don't think so.

[Impy]

A special state rep special election.

So it's extra special? ;) District 61? Tami Zawistowski?

I’ve tried to quit, but cannot leave a conservative out there without support.

It's in your blood Pete, you can't fight it.

[Skybird]

1970-1971 school year, my 8th grade math teacher (north central Wisconsin) brought a muzzleloader rifle he had built to use in illustrating a geometry concept talking about aim point and bullet drop over a certain distance. It remained in a corner of the classroom for several days without incident.

[98ZJ USMC]

Has to be before the 1960s.

We had Rifle Club in HS in the mid-70's. NW Suburban Chicago. Packed a .22LR in the car. Never a peep.

[Still Thinking]

Heh, I lived in Santa Margarita in 1969!

[righttackle44]

With all due respect to Justice Scalia: if you harassed an Italian kid carrying a rifle in those days, guys named Knuckles, Guido, and Shoes might show up at your door.

[Foundahardheadedwoman]

I blame most of our current problems on women. Don’t know when exactly it started but suddenly women became pussies. My mother is 78 and still packs and is an excellent shot. She always has been, trained in the use of guns as a child, as was I. Our other 1/2 of the problem is busybody women with cell phones. They have access and instant contact with police and seem to love to create drama that often turns deadly. I blame tv for women’s love of drama and their lack of the ability to think rather than feel.
My answer is outlaw women and cell phones I figure 75% of our current problems would disappear. I know this will not be a poplar view but it must be done to save the Republic. I am aware that the birth rate would drop but so what, take a close look at our current crop of tattooed zombies and the inescapable conclusion is what do we have to lose. Think of the inflatable doll boom that would create millions of jobs. No more Dem voters because men would no longer go along with silly ideas from goodlooking women just to get them in the sack. I am sorry must go now, just heard she who must be obeyed yelling at me and she doesn’t sound like she is in a good mood.

[lapdog]

I was a kid in South Louisiana 45 years ago and if you didn’t have some fishing gear and a shotgun in your trunk, something was wrong with you.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I had a friend who attended Bishop Dubois HS in Manhattan and he reported carrying a rifle at sling arms on the subway to shooting meets at the Knightsbridge Armory in the Bronx. I’m pretty sure that firearms were not permitted on the subway in those days, but a lot things were overlooked when they collided with commonsense in those days. He reported that once a cop asked him what he was doing, and accepted his explanation.

[Bender2]

I attended Northeast 1965/66. Do you recall the Drama Department putting on the play "A Pair of Lunatics" that spring? Well, if you do, I was the male lead--

BTW I spent a lot of time at the Whiskey A-Go-Go listening to The Boogie Kings and the The Righteous Brothers drinking $1.25 Tom Collins... one after another with Cee Campbell.

Gadzooks! She was a babe even if her Pappy was the High Sheriff of Rapides Parish... Those were the days weren't they?

Nowadays, we have the Grand Holy, Anointed Righteous Brother and his Queenbee... telling us how to live out lives-- Or else!

[gunsmithkat]

My dad grew up in Brooklyn. He used to take his single shot 22 rifle on the subway heading out of town for weekend camping trips. This was in the ‘30’s and ‘40’s.