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.
Yes, I know. Are you a member of the NTGA?
The National TyWrap Gun Association? You betcha. Got one in front of me now............
Point taken...perhaps this is yet another unnecessary law. Still, this story is not about banning anything.
This is a stupid statement. It sounds as if the muzzle is flying off downrange instead of the BB or pellet! I guess you have to buy a new barrel every time you fire it!
You, sir, are a threat to the known world!
Panduit GS2B with nickel plated handles and 8 level tensioner. ...........Locked and loaded............
I live in a neighborhood where there are boys who are real boys. They played with sling shots one week. First there was one and then everybody got them. There are 9 that is NINE boys ranging from 7 to 14.
Alas one of the twins shot a gravel that glanced off the ground and hit Spencer in the eye. Alas...the slingshots are no more.
Have a great weekend! I'm going home now!............
boo-j f'n kerry-hoo
They couldn't even ban the actual action. They left their own huge loophole so they can charge one for just about anything.
Thank goodness they left assault airguns alone.
I'll give up my spork only when they pry it from my cold, dead hands...
Aw geez, not this crap again.........
You forget the balistic noodles.
Local kid got shot between the ribs by a high powered air rifle. It ruptured the pericardium and the internal bleeding stopped his heart.
the bill is stupid but gun handling rules should apply no matter what sort of gun it is. Whoever pulled the trigger on the driver is no one I would defend
Yet it is against the law to assault someone with a potentially deadly weapon. This article begins to smell like week old fish at this point.
I saw my dog almost die from a piece of snot lodged in his throat today.
I remember as a kid I had a spring operated, belt fed M-1919 .30 cal machine gun, complete with tripod and T&E. The belt was probably about a foot and a half long and you inserted the "bullets" into loops in the belt. Charge the weapon once, drop the butterfly and away you go. Rate of fire was pretty quick too as I recall. It would send the "rounds" a good 75 feet or more. Great fun and no one in my neighborhood EVER wore any kind of eye protection when we played Army with it. Surprisingly, no one ever got hurt either. And we didn't have safety belts in our cars back then either. I really miss those days.
Ever been hit by a paintball gun? Those things hurt like crap and can leave a nasty bruise. Some of them can send a paintball flying at 500 fps. A 230 gr. FMC or FMJ round out of a Model 1911 .45 is around 900 fps. I guess they will be next.
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