SG:
Sorry for the delay....
Seems to me to be a mere parroting back of the wording of the actual statute, or close to it. That as opposed to explaining the lengthy and sometimes complicated pre 1934 Legislation policies and procedures that existed. Then again, different wording might have created more writing and explanation. For the sake of early articles, I’m only surmising that the Bureau’s writers in Crime Records felt that a one liner of what the statute said would suffice for readers (and/or maybe simply just “space” restrictions).
This subject is probably better discussed over a few beers at the local pub but we don’t have that luxury. But anyhow, the Bureau made no secret of weapons use prior to the legislation. If we just take the June, 1933 (after the Kansas City Massacre) through to the May/June 1934 legislation, the “whole world” knew of the Bureau’s efforts to obtain more firearms and organize training. After the killing of the agent and officers in Kansas City, it was “balls to the wall.” Those who perpetuated the 1934 weapons myth over the years either didn’t bother to look or somehow missed what was pretty evident. For openers, pre-legislation weapons use in photos and articles surrounding highly publicized Bureau/gangland firefights such as Little Bohemia among others.
Furthermore, if we stay within the narrow confines of just June, 1933 to December, 1933, a couple of highlights missed over the decades:
* With back and forth documentation with the Secretary Of War, the Bureau had numerous training camps in operation in the Washington area with assistance from the Army by July/August, 1933. The press knew about them and made inquiries about training at Ft. Washington, Ft. Meade and others.
* Colt representatives began selling more weapons to the FBI and in June, 1933 the Bureau adopted their .38 Police Positive among others.
* In July, 1933 the National Rifle Association was making police training pamphlets avail to the Bureau as was the War Department.
* By July, 1933 Agents In Charge were making contact with Chiefs of Police in their jurisdictions to assist with training and facilities and within a month or two, training had begun at these facilities across the nation.
Many thanks for your input...
larry wack
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