Whats up with this?

[plmcrzy]

I was online looking at my local newspaper when I came across an article about two men getting busted for a clandestin pot farm. Among the articals siezed was a altered/sawed off shotgun that the authorities charged them with possesion of a weapon of mass destruction! Since when did that come into play as a weapon of mass destruction? Am I missing something here? Thoughts anybody?

 

[wbwanzer]

I would not have thought of it as such.

 

[kingpin008]

It's a newspaper. The media have never been known for accuracy when reporting about firearms. Did you expect something different?

 

[plmcrzy]

Kingpin, you have a point, but really, I mean really?

 

[TCB in TN]

Probably got confused. If I remember right sawed off shotty would be classified as a DD destructive device (or some such) and the brilliant reporter either got it wrong or took a little creative liberty with the wording.

 

[ceetee]

IIRC, a short-barreled shotgun is an Any Other Weapon. The main difference being a $5 tax stamp rather than a $200 stamp (as in a short-barreled rifle).

 

[kingpin008]

Kingpin, you have a point, but really, I mean really?

Yes, really. The media makes ridiculous mistakes and exaggerations everyday. This is one of them. I really don't see why it warrants such jaw-dropping incredulity.

And ultimately, what's the point in complaining about it if you're not going to bother to offer up a correction? How about, any time we see or hear something nonsensical or incorrect in regards to firearms in the media we take the time to call or write in and correct them? Maybe then we'd be able to save ourselves the trouble of making threads like this, because it wouldn't happen in the first place.

 

[Lonestar49]

Actually..

...

Semi sawed off shotgun (legal)

Riot gun

Scatter gun

Weapon of mass destruction.. yea, but it was most likely "The_Headline" to sell the story of Newspaper "spin"..


Ls

 

[merlinfire]

If that's a WMD, I betcha they found some in Iraq after all.

 

[Vyacheslav]

The main difference being a $5 tax stamp rather than a $200 stamp

$5 transfer, to create one it's still $200

 

[buttrap]

NC law classes a sawed off shotgun as a weapon of mass destruction so the media was just following the legal angle is all.

 

[Sam1911]

IIRC, a short-barreled shotgun is an Any Other Weapon.

FEDERALLY: Any shotgun with barrels less than 18" long, and/or with a total overall length of less than 26" is a National Firearms Act -- Title II regulated "Short Barreled Shotgun."

IF the firearm was manufactured as a pistol -- not made with a shoulder stock, and NEVER fitted with a shoulder stock -- then it is an "Any Other Weapon", which is also a Title II regulated firearm.

NC State law defines large-bore (> .50 cal) weapons which are not particularly "sporting" as "Weapons of Mass Destruction." See here: http://law.onecle.com/north-carolina/14-criminal-law/14-288.8.html

So ... the paper was right in reporting what state laws he was charged with breaking.