Life, 1927-05-05 · page 3 of 46
Life — May 5, 1927 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily a **Smith & Wesson revolver advertisement**, not satire. The heading "PROTECTION" and accompanying illustration show a police officer sheltering children and civilians, establishing the product's safety theme. The text argues that revolvers are essential for law enforcement and home defense—positioning firearms as necessary for social order and security. The ad emphasizes that S&W revolvers have "safety ideas" making accidental discharge "impossible," addressing contemporary concerns about firearm safety. The rhetoric reflects early 20th-century attitudes normalizing armed protection as fundamental to civilization. There is **no political satire here**—this is genuine period advertising presenting gun ownership as a civic good rather than a controversial issue, which represents a notably different cultural stance than modern firearms debates.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
fhe re invaluable Life PROTECTION The most dangerous crossing in town is robbed of Thundering tons of traffic come to a stop. its power to harm the tiniest pedestrian tion at hand... what a feeling of security it creates and how well even the youngest sense it... how consciously apprehensive we all are in its absence, The same children, wives and mothers who need protection on the highways also need protection in the home. There may be only one time in their lives when this need will be urgent, but to be able to fulfill the need at that critical moment is vital. ++. protec 1. The revolver has a place in the hands of the law-abiding public. 2. A thag would rother attack am wnarmed Gestrian, motorist or householder than an 3,2 prohibit the manufacture ond sale of re- order to prevent erime would be to prohibiting the manufacture and jobiles to put an end to automobile with wo possi~ Ditity of probation or suspended sentence. 5. A swift, eure punishment for crime is the only preper means for reducing erimi fo the Const ei The Fight of the people to heep and bear arms shall mot be infringed.” ‘That is why we are provd the high tradi rt_im protecting the Nation 08 a whol i times of peace it has enabled ua to protect the individual The officer at his post and his brother guard- ians of the peace can furnish protection in only one place at a time. Quick and fearless in respond- ing to emergency calls, the fact remains that the guardian of the law is generally called after the law-breaker has swept upon his prey. Do you want revenge or... protection ? Banish fear. The safest, most dependable revolver for home de- fense. Smith & Wesson originated the safety idea in firearms over forty years ago. The 32 and 38 caliber S & W Safety make accidental dis- charge by adult or child impossible. Our Descriptive Booklet C may interest you—it will be sent free upon request. SMITH SPRINGFIELD, THE -R EVOLVE RK volver is an effective instrument in the promotion of law and order. It is an factor in the conservation of life and property and creates a feeling of security WESSON MASS., U.S.A. MANUFACTUB_ER_ comicbooks.com