The Penitentiary Upgrades Its Arsenal
Fearing prison riots, the Washington state penitentiary outfits guards with high-velocity Winchester rifles.
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The Washington state penitentiary officials are preparing against any possible outbreak of convicts, such as occurred at the Oregon state penitentiary a year ago and at the Folsom prison a few months ago, by arming the guards with modern high-velocity rifles. A consignment of twelve 30-30 magazine Winchester rifles, ordered by the state several weeks ago through H. O. Peck, arrived Monday and were turned over to Superintendent Dryden. The old rifles, which were of an obsolete pattern, will be thrown aside and will be used only in an emergency. The new rifles have an effective range of over a mile. The bullet is steel-jacketed and weighs 170 grains.
“The new rifles have an effective range of over a mile.”
The fear of prison unrest during this era spurred rapid militarization of state facilities, a trend that echoes through the history of carceral technology and security. The mention of 'steel-jacketed' bullets highlights the shift toward more lethal industrial-grade weaponry in American corrections.
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