Democratic Arsenal

In the early days of World War II, France's Jean Monnet, then his country's Ambassador to Washington, referred to the U.S. as the "arsenal of democracy." Last week it was clear that the nation is also something of a private arsenal, even more so than most people had suspected. The new federal firearms act not only bans interstate sale of arms and ammunition but also toughens the Government's 30-year control over automatic weapons, sawed-off shotguns, machine guns, silencers, gadget guns, bombs and grenades. Owners must register all such hardware with Washington as of Dec. 1 or face a maximum penalty of a $10,000 fine and ten years in jail. During a November amnesty allowing owners to report their more exotic weapons with no questions asked, the Internal Revenue Service, which oversees the drive, has received almost 20,000 registration forms in Washington. In addition, tons of armaments have been handed over to authorities.

An Ohio man had to register a homemade howitzer that he uses to shoot cement-filled beer cans at trees he wants felled. Boise State College had to register the cannon that celebrates its foot ball team's touchdowns. A retired military man in Washington, D.C., listed two antitank guns. Miami officials registered a pistol made from a brier pipe. Boston discovered a 3.5-in. rocket launcher. Honolulu agents collected seven Chinese machine guns from G.I.s who were returning from Viet Nam. An Idaho farmer registered a fully assembled 90-mm. antiaircraft gun that he employs in a potato field as a "very effective" scarecrow. A Des Moines resident had to register his driveway markers--two live 500-lb. bombs.

Across the country, responses varied greatly. New York State reported 100 inquiries a day and 27,400 registration forms already distributed. New England asked for an extra 5,000. Dallas has passed out 30,000, but Los Angeles only 500. New Orleans picked up two tons of weapons, Nashville a pickup truck full, Chicago, Detroit and the state of Montana none.

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