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

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.


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