New Jersey resident Ryan Narciso could get three years in jail for having an air-powered pellet gun in his car, according to a story by Ken Serrano at MyCentralJersey.com:
The gun, a Gamo P-23, was sitting under the rear window of the 2004 coupe. Looking like a larger-caliber handgun, the firearm drew a quick response from the bicycle-patrol officer who stopped Narciso for doing 40 mph in a 25-mph zone. With gun drawn, the officer arrested him.
Granted, it was a little foolish of Narciso to keep a realistic-looking gun in his car where it would be visible through the window. Even if the cops didn’t spot it, there’s a good chance someone would try to steal it.
Still, a three-year prison term for illegal possession of a gun seems excessive. It’s not as if he was brandishing it, or even carrying it.
Also, did I mention it was an airgun? Since when are air-powered guns (pellet guns, BB-guns, etc,) considered firearms? When I was a kid, I used to shoot a pellet gun in my backyard in Chicago. Nobody cared. I guess nowadays the people who run our local governments are just pussies.
Based on the story, it seems unlikely that when the New Jersey legislature increased the penalties for unlawful gun possession, they intended to include airguns. This sort of inane law enforcement seems like a good scenario to use a little prosecutorial discretion…or jury nullification.
These NJ laws are ridiculous. I just read another story about teenagers with airsoft guns getting charged with possession of a weapon. These things can’t even put an eye out, yet two 15 year olds will have that on their records for the rest of their lives.
Next thing you know, 6 year olds with water pistols will be getting 25 to life.
Since when is it worth ruining somebody’s life for possessing toys?
It’s like some form of collective denial. “Sure, I have a role in putting some guy in a cage for having a BB gun, but there are lots of other people involved, so I must be doing the right thing.”
all this stuff about pellet guns is stupid there harmless
ok i was reading and it said somewhere in cali i think a boy got shot and killed for taking a airsoft gun to school
I think pellet guns are a great way to learn how to shoot but they are still dangerous and should be handled with care because they are still weapons after all.