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EDITORIAL: Sign the air-gun bill
Contra Costa Times ^ | 8/18/6 | Editor

Posted on 08/18/2006 12:56:31 PM PDT by SmithL

ANYONE WHO HAS ever been shot by an air gun does not need to be told that, in the wrong hands, it can be a dangerous weapon.

Just ask Orinda City Councilman Steven Glazer. In October of 2003, Glazer was driving in a convertible with his family in Orinda when he felt a hard thump on his neck.

When he went to the hospital, doctors told him that he had been shot by a pellet that barely missed his carotid artery. He had to undergo a two-hour surgery and says he still suffers numbness in his face and neck.

At the time, the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office believed it had identified the shooter - Eli Polk, son of convicted murderer Susan Polk.

Prosecutors, however, declined to press charges. They said a major reason was that unlike in the case of a firearm, there was nothing in the law that made it a crime to negligently discharge an air gun.

Why? Because air guns are not on the list of firearms included under an existing law.

"This is a huge loophole that should have been closed a long time ago," says Sen. Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch. Spurred by the shooting of Glazer in Contra Costa County, Torlakson has authored a bill that would make it a misdemeanor to fire a pellet or BB gun in a "grossly negligent manner that could result in injury or death."

Anyone convicted could be sentenced to up to a year in jail.

The bill has passed both the Assembly and the Senate. It has now awaits Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's signature.

Some state officials argue the law is unnecessary, that current laws already allow prosecutors to bring assault and battery charges for reckless use of a firearm, and that includes air guns.

However, it would appear that existing laws on the books do not go far enough in protecting California residents from weapons that some people mistake for toys.

As Torlakson rightly points out, some air gun muzzles have a velocity that surpasses that of a handgun. If a BB lands in someone's eye or another vulnerable body part, it can cause major bodily harm.

In 2005, 21,000 people had to be treated in hospital emergency rooms after they were injured by a BB or other air gun, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Air guns clearly are not to be taken lightly. We urge Schwarzenegger to send that message by signing Torlakson's bill into law.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: airgun; bang; banglistlite; callegislation; sb532
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To: TChris

Whatever happened to slingshots?


21 posted on 08/18/2006 1:18:19 PM PDT by litehaus
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To: SmithL

If only that law had been passed before this P^ssy got shot with a BB, then it would have never happened.
I'll tell you what we need to make a law about. It's a real problem and if we had a good law we could stop this problem before it gets out of hand. We need to pass a law against child molestation. If we had a law against that then people would stop abusing children. We should also ban cocaine.


22 posted on 08/18/2006 1:18:47 PM PDT by TheKidster
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To: SmithL
They aren't charging him? So what if there's not a law against discharging an air rifle? How about an assault charge? It doesn't matter how you assault someone; it's still assault.
23 posted on 08/18/2006 1:19:02 PM PDT by JamesP81 ("Never let your schooling interfere with your education" --Mark Twain)
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To: SmithL
ANYONE WHO HAS ever been shot by an air gun does not need to be told that, in the wrong hands, it can be a dangerous weapon.

I would have been dead a couple dozen times over...

24 posted on 08/18/2006 1:19:47 PM PDT by gridlock (The 'Pubbies will pick up at least TWO seats in the Senate and FOUR seats in the House in 2006)
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To: litehaus
Whatever happened to slingshots?

They're wrapped up in the "etc. - etc." part. :-)

25 posted on 08/18/2006 1:20:39 PM PDT by TChris (Banning DDT wasn't about birds. It was about power.)
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To: SmithL
ANYONE WHO HAS ever been shot by an air gun does not need to be told that, in the wrong hands, it can be a dangerous weapon.

I have spent 5 decades on this earth without a law degree however I have been shot by an air gun more than once.

I guess I chose wisely by not pursuing a degree in law for then I would have suffered numerous lifelong demises because of my "air gun" inflictions bestowed upon me as a child.

26 posted on 08/18/2006 1:21:43 PM PDT by EGPWS
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To: andyk
it would appear that existing laws on the books do not go far enough in protecting California residents from weapons that some people mistake for toys.

Ever had your foot run over by a Tonka Toy, I have corns and that is a real hazard. Also they are potentially very deadly when left on stairs.

27 posted on 08/18/2006 1:22:20 PM PDT by JimSEA ( "The purpose of diplomacy is to prolong a crisis." Spock)
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To: Hexenhammer
Yup. Here in PRNJ, airguns are classified as long guns. Discharging within 200 yards of a standing structure is a violation of NJ State Law and makes you liable for confiscation of your arms (long & short) under NJ State Law.

Heck, I used to enjoy whacking the squirrels in my backyard with a Crossman 760 some 20 years ago, but can't do that no more!

28 posted on 08/18/2006 1:23:07 PM PDT by paulcissa (Only YOU can prevent liberalism.)
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To: Porterville

If you know what your doing, one kill another person with a "very sharp #2 pencil"......and with very little effort.


29 posted on 08/18/2006 1:24:21 PM PDT by Gator113
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To: The Electrician
Sporkman is going to get you for that!


30 posted on 08/18/2006 1:25:40 PM PDT by RebelBanker (If you can't do something smart, do something right.)
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To: Porterville
Read the story folks. The law doesn't "ban" anything except maybe firing a pellet or BB gun in a "grossly negligent manner that could result in injury or death."

</knee jerk>

31 posted on 08/18/2006 1:28:26 PM PDT by TankerKC (Step Back! Doors Closing.)
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To: Red Badger

"About the only gun I know of that isn't dangerous is a TY-WRAP GUN"

Tell that to the Darwin award winner as he wrapped it around his neck ...


32 posted on 08/18/2006 1:29:21 PM PDT by RS ("I took the drugs because I liked them and I found excuses to take them, so I'm not weaseling.")
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To: andyk

Oh, my goodness!!! You're right! Do those people even know what an "air rifle" is??? Please, please, please!!! Save the chill'un!!!!


33 posted on 08/18/2006 1:29:47 PM PDT by No-Really-But (Just so tired of fuzzy thinking, rants, etc.)
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To: militant2

Don't forget frozen turkeys being dropped from overpasses which killed a woman. Done by some jerk teenagers who were acting like jerk teenagers.


34 posted on 08/18/2006 1:30:52 PM PDT by Texas Songwriter
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To: Red Badger
About the only gun I know of that isn't dangerous is a TY-WRAP GUN..............

Unless you point it at the USAF Security Police as you drive on to a SAC flight line full of B-52s...then they are harmful to you.

Yes, a "friend" of mine did that once...he and everyone else in the van got a face full of concrete.

35 posted on 08/18/2006 1:32:41 PM PDT by TankerKC (Step Back! Doors Closing.)
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To: TChris

mowed - brush hog
blinded - laser pointer
deafened - 100db sound system
gored - bull
electrocuted - kite in wires
amputated - chainsaw
shredded - chipper


36 posted on 08/18/2006 1:33:17 PM PDT by polymuser (There is one enemy and one war.)
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To: TankerKC

The "gun" wasn't dangerous, Your friend was............


37 posted on 08/18/2006 1:35:09 PM PDT by Red Badger (Is Castro dead yet?........)
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To: Porterville

What about rubber bands and paper clips - potentially lethal weapons if there ever were such!


38 posted on 08/18/2006 1:35:58 PM PDT by Little Ray (If you want to be a martyr, we want to martyr you.)
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To: TankerKC

"Read the story folks. The law doesn't "ban" anything except maybe firing a pellet or BB gun in a "grossly negligent manner that could result in injury or death."

I should think launching anything by any means at a moving vehicle would already be against the law ... isn't it ?

I would think I would be in trouble if I was tossing chainsaws in the street also.


39 posted on 08/18/2006 1:36:14 PM PDT by RS ("I took the drugs because I liked them and I found excuses to take them, so I'm not weaseling.")
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To: Gator113

A bar of soap in a sock can crush your skull. That's why they've banned soap in France...............and socks..........


40 posted on 08/18/2006 1:36:21 PM PDT by Red Badger (Is Castro dead yet?........)
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