If a BB gun is a firearm under the law, that has far-reaching consequences beyond just this case. The courts should think long and hard about that, since it's totally bogus and unfair to have "firearm" mean different things in different situations.
Actually it is totally valid and fair...if you are the judge.
Oh, I think that the courts have thought long and hard about this. Their conclusion is that the more "stuff" they can fit under the umbrella of 'firearm', the more stuff they can ban when given the chance.
There's plenty of liberal judges that prefer to circumvent the constitution in favor of being more like Europe. And removing all potential weapons from the hands of the subjects (er... people) is decidedly European these days.
Oh YEAH!!??
Tell that to the Mad Hatter!!
The ATF will love this. Now they will be shooting 8 year olds in the back and breaking down doors at 2 am over an "unregistered bb gun".
If a BB gun is a firearm under the law, that has far-reaching consequences beyond just this case. The courts should think long and hard about that, since it's totally bogus and unfair to have "firearm" mean different things in different situations.The courts aren't responsible for this lunacy, the legislature is. According to Minn. Stat. 97A.015, subd. 19, a firearm is "a gun that discharges shot or a projectile by means of an explosive, a gas, or compressed air."