Posted on 04/05/2013 5:48:14 AM PDT by Gorilla44
CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. —
He looks like a typical 7-year-old boy, but on Tuesday night, Sam Grant is facing charges that many adults never will.
He is charged with two felonies for something that happened when his mother turned her back for just a second. His parents told Eyewitness News that they're outraged.
"We are both just shocked. We have been in a state of shock over this," said Ray Robbins.
Sam's parents said this scenario began in February when Sam was playing outside with his BB gun. They said he began shooting at an abandoned house right across the street, but instead, Sam shot two cars as they were passing by.
Sam's mother, Cherry Robbins, immediately called the Catawba County Sheriff's Department.
"The officer told me he did not want to charge my son, the lady told me she did not want him charged. The next thing I know, I am getting a letter from the DPS saying he has been charged with two felonies," said Cherry.
Sam is charged with two felony counts of discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle. If convicted he faces one year probation and hundreds of hours of community service.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsoctv.com ...
I thought BB guns lacked the critical “fire” component involved with most powder-based cartridges?
Fully automatic assault BB gun. Only the military needs something like that.
Well—I agree that the kid should be punished-—but this is a bit over the top!
Actually—it’s a lot over the top!
I’d be really upset if a kid shot a BB gun at my car and damaged a window or made a dent in the car, or chipped the paint.........but I certainly wouldn’t want the 7 yr old to be charged with a felony.
How crazy is that?
Good catch.
Firearm.
–
A handgun,
shotgun, or rifle which expels a projectile by action
of an explosion.
http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2011/Bills/House/PDF/H650v6.pdf
I am dumbfounded as to how NC is becoming more and more like new yawk every day! I feel sorry for the REAL North Carolinians!
Gosh, probation for a 7 year old will be tough. Stay
mostly at home, in by dark, be accompanied by parents,
attend school. In other words,carry on Sam! LOL!
I guess it depends upon where you live..
” Air rifles, air pistols, and BB guns shall not be deemed “dangerous firearms” within the meaning of this statute except in: Anson, Caldwell, Caswell, Chowan, Cleveland, Cumberland, Durham, Forsyth, Gaston, Harnett, Haywood, Mecklenburg, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Union and Vance Counties.”
(last paragraph)
http://www.bullshooterssupply.com/store/ncfirearmslaws.php
she it, my friend, mom of two, told me a story about how they would shoot their bebe guns into the nieghbors’ patio cocktail parties when she was a kid. He dad ran the power and light in St. Louis.
One would have to look up the criminal definition of a firearm in NC and projectile - I know in WV we used to come across this with pellet guns, bows/arrows, and sling shots — didn’t matter if it was fired by gunpowder or by another method - a projectile was launched causing damage either to a person or property...I would say the same is being applied here. Had the BB struck the passenger causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle, thus resulting in a collision, be property (vehicle, light pole, house) or injuring a person or a fatality - then I can see why they are going after this little 7 r old. What it doesn’t say is whether they have been complaints logged against this kid in the past - and the DPS is pursuing it because the prosecutor says to!
Were it my kid I would stomp down to child services and seek out the dimwit who suggested this and show them exactly what a felony looks like.
7yo and felony don’t go hand in hand. Just try to prove he had the mental accuity to know he was violating a law is impossible.
BB and firearm don’t belong in the same sentence either unless it were a 22BB cap which I doubth this is.
Too much unemployment and people living off the system not working causes matters like this to happen. As my father used to say, idle hands are the workshop of the devil.
Without the requisite FIRE, how in the hell is it considered a FIREarm?
Well, he did shoot two cars that were not appropriate and fair game targets ..
Gotta pay fer irresponsible and imapriate targets ...
Meanwhile the NC Parole Board is probably letting some serial killer/child molester/rapist out of prison early for “good behavior”.
This is as bad an over-reach of authority as the 3-year old in Piedmont, Oklahoma, being ticketed ($3,500, IIRC) for peeing in his front yard.
Sure, this kid needs to be punished and talked to about the severity of his actions; but at his age, he does not understand how bad the results of his actions could have been.
My 12 year old son was charged with a felony over shooting at a well padded friend (at friend’s request) with a blow dart. The friend, nor his parents wanted to press charges,....a nosy neighbor saw it and called the police. The cops ‘deemed’ this a weapon and charged him with assault with a weapon.
We plead him down to a misdemeanor and plead guilty in abeyance with community service that was completed. That was back in 1996, and in Utah.
It still seems like a nightmare that cost us a fortune in attorneys fees.
He grew into a great man. At 29 years old, he is a homeowner with two kids, a great job he’s had since he was 17, and the most lovely wife.
Officers lie, regularly.
Wow, myself and sons would be more than broke if we got fined for every time we went in the yard.
Catawba County District Attorney: two newspapers have recently called for the resignation of Jay Gaither. A number of people have cited his ineffectiveness and habitual drunkenness as factors.
http://www.observernewsonline.com/content/dwi-das-office
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