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Is this a .22RF?
Does anyone know if they are talking about .22 RF
N.J. gun law off-target, critics say
Sunday, November 30, 2003
By TOM QUIGLEY
The Express-Times
Some farmers in Warren and Hunterdon counties could be the owners of an illegal weapon and not even know it.
Take Dennis Pryslak, a Great Meadows sod farmer, for example.
From Our Advertiser
A judge last week convicted him of possession of a prohibited assault weapon.
Pryslak bought the .22-caliber semi-automatic rifle from a friend and used it to shoot rabid animals and rats that occasionally show up on his sod fields, his defense attorney said.
The weapon came to the attention of authorities when one of Pryslak's employees allegedly brandished it during an argument with a customer in the farm store.
Warren County First Assistant Prosecutor Frank Bucsi said the gun was stolen at some point in Pennsylvania.
It's an illegal rifle because the ammunition magazine holds 17 rounds. The limit in New Jersey is 15.
"Farmers don't have assault weapons," said Warren County Freeholder-elect Everett Chamberlain
Chamberlain -- a farmer and hunter -- said it's time for the state to redefine the gun laws.
"That law was passed on emotion rather than fact," Chamberlain said. "The law is the law right now but they should really revisit it."
He said it wouldn't even occur to many farmers that they may have a banned weapon.
"Most of them have double-barreled shotguns and .22 rifles," Chamberlain said. "People don't even know they have a weapon that's considered an assault weapon."
He said some farmers could have a weapon passed down to them through their families that is now banned.
Chamberlain said a pump-action, double-barreled shotgun loaded with buckshot is legal and capable of much more damage than a semi-automatic .22-caliber rifle.
A semi-automatic rifle can fire repeated shots but the trigger must be pulled with each shot. A fully automatic weapon requires only a single trigger pull to fire continuous shots.
Bucsi stressed that the rifle owned by Pryslak was allegedly brandished by an employee and was stolen.
"That's the reason why we have strict gun laws," he said. "And this office will strictly enforce the gun laws."
Bucsi said the responsibility is on gun owners.
"If you're going to possess a gun you should know the law," he said.
Pryslak's sentencing will likely take place early next year and he faces probation or a possible prison term.
Larry Kolackovsky, the owner of Larry's Gun and Sport Shop in Phillipsburg, said he has to be very careful these days.
Kolackovsky said if he's not sure about a weapon he's purchasing he will check with state police.
He said the gun laws are confusing because they also ban certain weapons that look like weapons that are banned.
"It's a hard law to follow," he said.
He said some rifles can be made legal simply by changing the ammunition clip.
He said a lot of gun collectors suddenly found themselves with guns from World War II that are no longer legal.
He described .22-caliber semi-automatic rifles as target guns or "plinkers."
"They're just varmint guns," he said.
He said it's wrong to punish people who may not be aware of the law.
To legally own a gun in New Jersey requires a series of background checks.
A firearms purchaser's identification card can be applied for at a local police station. Those who obtain a card can purchase permitted rifles and shotguns.
To purchase a handgun, an individual permit is needed for each gun. Those permits can be applied for at local police departments by those who already have a firearms purchaser's identification card.
Approval from a Superior Court judge is needed to obtain a permit to carry a handgun. Those permits are extremely difficult to obtain, authorities said.
Under New Jersey law, it's even possible to seek a permit to own an assault weapon. Court approval is needed.
Reporter Tom Quigley can be reached at 908-475-8184 or by e-mail at [email protected].
Did ya notice:
"Chamberlain said a pump-action, double-barreled shotgun loaded with buckshot is legal"
Does anyone know if they are talking about .22 RF
N.J. gun law off-target, critics say
Sunday, November 30, 2003
By TOM QUIGLEY
The Express-Times
Some farmers in Warren and Hunterdon counties could be the owners of an illegal weapon and not even know it.
Take Dennis Pryslak, a Great Meadows sod farmer, for example.
From Our Advertiser
A judge last week convicted him of possession of a prohibited assault weapon.
Pryslak bought the .22-caliber semi-automatic rifle from a friend and used it to shoot rabid animals and rats that occasionally show up on his sod fields, his defense attorney said.
The weapon came to the attention of authorities when one of Pryslak's employees allegedly brandished it during an argument with a customer in the farm store.
Warren County First Assistant Prosecutor Frank Bucsi said the gun was stolen at some point in Pennsylvania.
It's an illegal rifle because the ammunition magazine holds 17 rounds. The limit in New Jersey is 15.
"Farmers don't have assault weapons," said Warren County Freeholder-elect Everett Chamberlain
Chamberlain -- a farmer and hunter -- said it's time for the state to redefine the gun laws.
"That law was passed on emotion rather than fact," Chamberlain said. "The law is the law right now but they should really revisit it."
He said it wouldn't even occur to many farmers that they may have a banned weapon.
"Most of them have double-barreled shotguns and .22 rifles," Chamberlain said. "People don't even know they have a weapon that's considered an assault weapon."
He said some farmers could have a weapon passed down to them through their families that is now banned.
Chamberlain said a pump-action, double-barreled shotgun loaded with buckshot is legal and capable of much more damage than a semi-automatic .22-caliber rifle.
A semi-automatic rifle can fire repeated shots but the trigger must be pulled with each shot. A fully automatic weapon requires only a single trigger pull to fire continuous shots.
Bucsi stressed that the rifle owned by Pryslak was allegedly brandished by an employee and was stolen.
"That's the reason why we have strict gun laws," he said. "And this office will strictly enforce the gun laws."
Bucsi said the responsibility is on gun owners.
"If you're going to possess a gun you should know the law," he said.
Pryslak's sentencing will likely take place early next year and he faces probation or a possible prison term.
Larry Kolackovsky, the owner of Larry's Gun and Sport Shop in Phillipsburg, said he has to be very careful these days.
Kolackovsky said if he's not sure about a weapon he's purchasing he will check with state police.
He said the gun laws are confusing because they also ban certain weapons that look like weapons that are banned.
"It's a hard law to follow," he said.
He said some rifles can be made legal simply by changing the ammunition clip.
He said a lot of gun collectors suddenly found themselves with guns from World War II that are no longer legal.
He described .22-caliber semi-automatic rifles as target guns or "plinkers."
"They're just varmint guns," he said.
He said it's wrong to punish people who may not be aware of the law.
To legally own a gun in New Jersey requires a series of background checks.
A firearms purchaser's identification card can be applied for at a local police station. Those who obtain a card can purchase permitted rifles and shotguns.
To purchase a handgun, an individual permit is needed for each gun. Those permits can be applied for at local police departments by those who already have a firearms purchaser's identification card.
Approval from a Superior Court judge is needed to obtain a permit to carry a handgun. Those permits are extremely difficult to obtain, authorities said.
Under New Jersey law, it's even possible to seek a permit to own an assault weapon. Court approval is needed.
Reporter Tom Quigley can be reached at 908-475-8184 or by e-mail at [email protected].
Did ya notice:
"Chamberlain said a pump-action, double-barreled shotgun loaded with buckshot is legal"
