Posted on 08/30/2006 8:18:17 AM PDT by calcowgirl
SACRAMENTO - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed a bill that creates penalties for people who use air-powered pellet guns maliciously.
The legislation, by Sen. Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch, closed a loophole in state law, which didn't provide penalty options for persons who cause injuries with air-powered guns, a news release said.
The governor signed SB 532 into law Monday. Torlakson wrote the bill at the request of Orinda City Councilman Steve Glazer, who was shot in the neck with a pellet gun in 2003, leaving him with numbness in his face and neck.
"This new law will act as a deterrent and serve as a reminder to parents that air-powered guns are not toys," Torlakson said.
The person who shot Glazer was arrested, but the district attorney declined to prosecute the case because the law didn't allow sufficient penalty options, the release said.
In 2000, more than 21,000 people nationwide were treated in emergency rooms for air gun-related injuries, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control.
EDITORIAL: Sign the air-gun bill
Contra Costa Times ^ | 8/18/6 | Editor
Posted on 08/18/2006 12:56:31 PM PDT by SmithLLegislation prompted by the pellet gun shooting
Contra Costa Times ^ | 8/17/6 | Dogen Hannah
Posted on 08/17/2006 8:01:06 AM PDT by SmithL
OK, I'm not a lawyer, but isn't an assault an assault no matter what you use? I mean, if I maim you with an umbrella does there need to be a law against assaulting people with umbrellas to be prosecuted?
This one sounds reasonable, if mostly unnecessary, but I wonder if this signals the start of a push to regulate and restrict airguns? Some states (NJ comes to mind) and cities already treat airguns as firearms. Anything to make it more difficult and expensive for citizens to own any type of gun.
What is there that is reasonable about it, especially if you find it unnecessary? Another poster points out that it is simply a move to further control arms of all kinds.
Imagine how many other sources of injury resulting in numbness in the face and neck there are which are not yet covered. It's utter nonsense to pass laws in reaction to isolated cases like this.
(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo! )
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