tyeo098
Member
Hopefully the 'war' will end with the pen, not with the sword.
But keep your sword ready.
But keep your sword ready.
Does it get anymore ridiculous? 7 yo charged with 2 felonies for BB Gun
- Thread starter usmarine0352_2005
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berettaprofessor
Member
In AlexanderA's defense, I was seven, with a BB gun, and I darned well knew what would happen if I shot at cars, windows, dogs, etc without doing it beforehand.
Yes, I wouldn't have advocated charging the kid with a felony...but there's a good example of a boy who wasn't ready for the responsibility.
Agreed, but doesn't mean he's a brat. Just needs more supervision until he's more mature at his age than perhaps you or I.
ApacheCoTodd
member
Hard to say which is more asinine; laying a felony arrest on a 7 year old or ascribing a firearms violation to the activity involving a BB gun?
Doubtless, this kid will have this coming up for the rest of his life (lack of conviction aside) - probably already on a no-fly-list and doesn't know it yet.
Given the standards kids and boys in particular are held to today I can only thank God that my childhood isn't formally documented anywhere. My enthusiastic engagement in all things, mis-behavin' would have me saddled with a heck of a collar not to mention totally disallowed me for my past military career which ironically was augmented by my mis-spent youth on a very practical level.
Doubtless, this kid will have this coming up for the rest of his life (lack of conviction aside) - probably already on a no-fly-list and doesn't know it yet.
Given the standards kids and boys in particular are held to today I can only thank God that my childhood isn't formally documented anywhere. My enthusiastic engagement in all things, mis-behavin' would have me saddled with a heck of a collar not to mention totally disallowed me for my past military career which ironically was augmented by my mis-spent youth on a very practical level.
gdcpony
Member
More true than you know. Even a felony charge without a conviction makes military service difficult in at least two branches.
Funny thing is I did almost the exact same thing once. Shot at a bird not paying any attention to the road beyond. One window later I learned the fifth safety rule to firearms- with a BB gun thankfully.
JustinJ
Member
I wouldn't worry about it. The "war" has supposedly been right around the corner for decades now.
While i agree that felony charges are utterly absurd in this case, so is leaving a seven year old unsupervised with a bb gun.
Double Naught Spy
Sus Venator
Ridiculous? Sure? Why do folks expect laws to have age limits if age limits are not specified in the law?
it is amazing seeing some guys here saying if he hit my car I would be pissed. that style of guy is as bad as over zealous police. come on he is a kid. what would the pissed guys do shoot the kid beat him up? I remember doing it and seeing other kids do it and the people never got mad at the kid or me and the parents paid for the window. boys today are held in a straight jacket as it is and guys getting pissed are the type that have put these boys in a jail without bars
It also teaches people to consider the court summons as frivolous and should be ignored. Abusing the power of the summons just to scare people when they don't intend to prosecute earns contempt and disrespect for the system. The prosecutor is undermining his own authority with such actions.
I am going to guess that nobody, including the Juvenial courts and Sherriffs department, wanted this to happen. As soon as they realized their mistake they dropped the charges. Somehow someone who had the ability to push this forward thought they read that the boy shot a gun into a car. Either they didnt know what a BB gun was or, more likely, just missread it. It is probably nothing for anyone to get their panties in a wad over including the family. But I understand that these are trying times.
frankenstein406
Member
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wow there was a guy who shot his friend in the butt with a bb gun and I don't he even got that bad of charges.
Arkansas Paul
Member
Yep, it's pretty stupid to charge a kid with 2 felonies for this. His parents seem like decent enough folks. They took the BB gun away when he did something stupid, paid for the mistake, and made him work it off. I'd say that's pretty good parenting. Now, obviously they shouldn't give it back right away.
I know I said this four posts ago but I am going to say it again. I would be surprised if the entire thing was NOT an accident. My guess is someone read 'shot car with gun' instead of 'shot car with BB gun.' As soon as the mistake could be corrected it was. Nobody in North Carolina is trying to charge the kid intentionally.
The only way to get a charge for a summons to court is either the police referred (recommended) the charges to the DA, or the DA on his own took the case file and used the info provided to file the charge without a referral (not recommended). Over looking the words "BB" and "seven years old". There is no giant machine that automatically turns 911 calls into court cases. The DA made a conscious choice to charge a seven year old with a BB gun as a felony.
Either through ignorance or stupidity. Same thing here.
LevelHead
Member
BB Guns have been "firearms" in NJ for 40 years. Get used to it. It's only a matter of time.
I think we will give NJ back to the Brits or sell it to Germany/China before we let the rest of the Country become like NJ. Not going to happen. Your current shame is not our future.
orionengnr
Member
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2005
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- 5,716
The kid's parents did the right thing...after the horse was already out of the barn. They
Yes, someone on the justice side screwed up. Big time. And I am as anti-big government as anyone you will ever meet.
But as parents and gun owners, we need to take responsibility to supervise and teach our children proper firearms handling before they do this, not just pick up the pieces afterward.
I have no idea if he had ever held a rifle before, and we probably won't find out from the news source. But again, this is on the parents.
We have every right to be indignant about the overbearing arm of the law, but let's be honest. Accountability works both ways.
The government overreaction/over reach was only possible because the parents did not do their job in the first place.
Interesting choice of words, that. It's been a lot of years, and I've spent some time on the receiving end of "parental justice", but never had it explained to me like that, though.
This is where I part ways with the parents. This one is on mom, plain and simple.
And we are surprised by this...why, exactly?
Kid may have had poor luck, or poor aim, but there is another possibility, and it has to do with giving a kid a hammer, and wondering why he treats everything like a nail.
Yes, someone on the justice side screwed up. Big time. And I am as anti-big government as anyone you will ever meet.
But as parents and gun owners, we need to take responsibility to supervise and teach our children proper firearms handling before they do this, not just pick up the pieces afterward.
I have no idea if he had ever held a rifle before, and we probably won't find out from the news source. But again, this is on the parents.
We have every right to be indignant about the overbearing arm of the law, but let's be honest. Accountability works both ways.
The government overreaction/over reach was only possible because the parents did not do their job in the first place.
Stevie-Ray
Member
Not all airguns are created equal, depending on state. In mine, my Crosman M1 was not a firearm, my Sheridan 5mm pneumatic was.
LevelHead
Member
Have you been watching the news? My "shame" is becoming the country's reality. One state at a time. Sure Texas may be last, and who knows what will happen next, but if you think ridiculous laws and rulings like this are confined to places like NJ, then you've got your head in the sand.
No, not the country. A few states have been infected, but we will soon defeat the disease or cut out the cancer one way or the other. If you think the rest of the country is going to ban BB guns and hollow point bullets like NJ then you're the one with your head in the sand. The rest of us have been embarrassed by NJ for a long time.
We are not, and will not go down like NJ.
Yea thanks for the explanation Joeshmoe. But I am aware of how the system works. His charges were also dropped before he even stepped foot into a courtroom.
Never mind. You see it how you want to see it. I will see it how I think it probably happened.
Arkansas Paul
Member
It is most certainly not becoming the "country's reality". It may be becoming reality in some states, but not the country. I know Arkansas has actually passed some pro-gun legislation this session. Granted, not as much as I'd like, but steps in the right direction. We got church carry approved with permission of the minister. I happen to know of a bill that will be introduced shortly to allow carry in vehicles to and from work without a permit. I know, it's stupid that it isn't allowed already, but the fact is, some states are moving in the right direction.
The-Reaver
Member
Never been much of a believer in "Fate" however I am beginning to think it was part of the reason I had mine so young. He's 7 I'm 23 He's a pretty damn good shot and well disciplined. Maybe it's gods way of keeping my family together. I sure wish I could be part of the fight for our country with my father.
Queen_of_Thunder
member
Well if it takes a whole village to raise a child the entire community should be charged especially the adults.
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