MN judges write new law. Say BB guns are firearms.

[Moonglow]

Another judge takes a bribe and writes a law that makes no sense. BB guns are no more firearms than slingshots are.

Minnesota court: BB gun is a ‘firearm’

sep 28 2015 A BB gun is a firearm, the Minnesota Court of Appeals has ruled.

The court made its declaration in the case of a man who was not allowed to possess a firearm because of an earlier felony conviction for possession of a controlled substance.

This is the law that tripped up David Haywood.

Any person who has been convicted of a crime of violence, as defined in section 624.712, subdivision 5, and who ships, transports, possesses, or receives a firearm, commits a felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 15 years or to payment of a fine of not more than $30,000, or both.

But the law doesn’t define what a firearm is.

Haywood argues that a dictionary definition of firearm — “a weapon from which a shot is discharged by gunpowder” — should clear him because a BB gun doesn’t use gunpowder.

Minnesota should just stick with it states fav sport, WWE....

 

[MisterBeale]

Judges don't 'write' laws, the notion is ignorant idiocy.

Of course, gay marriage has been legal since the civil war. . . .

You know, when I first joined here, I thought you actually had some semblance of non-partisan, non-biased open minded intelligence. Wow, my first impression was wrong, wasn't it? Your motivations and biases clearly push you to write the stupidest statements, don't they?

 

[ShootSpeeders]

The court was following precedent as it's required to do:
“Haywood’s argument might be persuasive if we were writing on a clean slate,” Judge Michelle Ann Larkin wrote in today’s opinion (pdf). However, Minnesota’s appellate courts have consistently interpreted the term “firearm” as used within certain sections of chapter 609 to include BB guns.”

Exactly. They were agreeing with laws written by other courts.

This must stop. You want a law passed, go to congress.

 

[blastoff]

Judges don't 'write' laws, the notion is ignorant idiocy.

HAHAHA. Tell that to the 300 million american citizens who have to pay for the k-12 education of illegal aliens because the supreme court ordered states do so.

Hate to nitpick but think you should subtract those who pay no federal or state income tax payers because they could care less who's footing the bill.

 

[aris2chat]

>> barreled weapon that launches one or more projectiles<<

 

[Delta4Embassy]

Another judge takes a bribe and writes a law that makes no sense. BB guns are no more firearms than slingshots are.

Minnesota court: BB gun is a ‘firearm’

sep 28 2015 A BB gun is a firearm, the Minnesota Court of Appeals has ruled.

The court made its declaration in the case of a man who was not allowed to possess a firearm because of an earlier felony conviction for possession of a controlled substance.

This is the law that tripped up David Haywood.

Any person who has been convicted of a crime of violence, as defined in section 624.712, subdivision 5, and who ships, transports, possesses, or receives a firearm, commits a felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 15 years or to payment of a fine of not more than $30,000, or both.

But the law doesn’t define what a firearm is.

Haywood argues that a dictionary definition of firearm — “a weapon from which a shot is discharged by gunpowder” — should clear him because a BB gun doesn’t use gunpowder.

They are firearms and should be treated as such. Isn't typically a Daisy lever-action toy any more. Are legitimate bb/pellet weapons now. And when they're made to look like their bullet-firing versions, restricting their use and carry like the bullet-versions make sense.

How many have been shot by police and civilians for brandishing a realistic looking gun that turned out to be a bb/pellet version?

 

[MikeK]

BB guns are considered firearms in New Jersey, so this Minnesota ruling is one more step in the wrong direction. Little by little . . .