According to new federal laws, a non-lethal stun gun *is* in fact a firearm. Supposedly enacted specifically to keep felons from stun-guns, it seems geared more towards keeping the populace from self-defence.
What! Care to elborate a bit more on this? When did this get passed, and what else was made illegal? Paintball guns? Pellet guns? Rocks? Or only rocks in a sock? Tim is only too right -- this country is totally fucked.
On Tuesday, November 6, 2001, at 10:44 AM, Anonymous wrote:
According to new federal laws, a non-lethal stun gun *is* in fact a firearm. Supposedly enacted specifically to keep felons from stun-guns, it seems geared more towards keeping the populace from self-defence.
What! Care to elborate a bit more on this? When did this get passed, and what else was made illegal? Paintball guns? Pellet guns? Rocks? Or only rocks in a sock? Tim is only too right -- this country is totally fucked.
As with all firearms laws, things vary widely from state to state (so much for the Second Amendment applying uniformly...it's as if the First Amendment varied from state to state...this will happen in the near future, I predict). In Massachussetts, for example, stun guns are illegal (according to a Web site on MA gun laws I found by typing "firearms "stun guns" " into Google. In California, they are legal, with some restrictions: http://caag.state.ca.us/firearms/dwcl/12650.htm "ARTICLE 7. STUN GUNS 12650. "Stun gun" as used in this chapter shall include any item, except a taser, used or intended to be used as either an offensive or defensive weapon capable of temporarily immobilizing a person by the infliction of an electrical charge. 12651. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person may purchase, possess, or use a stun gun, subject to the following requirements: (a) No person convicted of a felony or any crime involving an assault under the laws of the United States, of the State of California, or any other state, government, or country or convicted of misuse of a stun gun under Section 244.5, shall purchase, possess, or use stun guns. (b) No person who is addicted to any narcotic drug shall purchase, possess, or use a stun gun. (c) No person shall sell or furnish any stun gun to a minor unless the minor is at least 16 years of age and has the written consent of his or her parent or legal guardian. Violation of this subdivision shall be a public offense punishable by a fifty dollar ($50) fine for the first offense. Any subsequent violation of this subdivision is a misdemeanor. (d) No minor shall possess any stun gun unless the minor is at least 16 years of age and has the written consent of his or her parent or legal guardian. 12652. Each stun gun sold shall contain both of the following: (a) The name of the manufacturer stamped on the stun gun. (b) The serial number applied by the manufacturer. 12653. Unless otherwise specified, any violation of this article is a misdemeanor. 12654. Each stun gun sold in this state shall be accompanied by an instruction booklet. Violation of this section shall be a public offense punishable by a fifty dollar ($50) fine for each weapon sold without the booklet. " I've heard anecdotes from people who were hassled by cops when they wore their stun guns on their belts. Similar to what often happens to people when they openly wear knives, even though open carry is ostensibly preferable in many places to concealment. "Do not anger Happy Fun Court by openly exercising your rights!" Besides varying from state to state, local satrapies often have their own special laws about what their sheeple may own, carry, or use. --Tim May "Aren't cats Libertarian? They just want to be left alone. I think our dog is a Democrat, as he is always looking for a handout" --Unknown Usenet Poster
On Tue, 6 Nov 2001, Tim May wrote:
In California, they are legal, with some restrictions:
http://caag.state.ca.us/firearms/dwcl/12650.htm
"ARTICLE 7. STUN GUNS 12650. "Stun gun" as used in this chapter shall include any item, except a taser, used or intended to be used as either an offensive or defensive
^^^^^^^^^ "Taser" is the stun gun to which I was referrring as unsaleable (is that a word?) to mere civilians. Additionally, I was referring to federal law, rather than state law, since (as we have seen in California's medical marijuana clinics) state laws are meaningless in the face of federal laws. I have left a message on an answering machine for regarding Anonymous' question for a citation, and will forward it when I receive a return call. The Taser issue is one I very recently (~2 months ago) researched, as I had planned to acquire and [openly] carry one. So much for that...
I've heard anecdotes from people who were hassled by cops when they wore their stun guns on their belts. Similar to what often happens to people when they openly wear knives, even though open carry is ostensibly preferable in many places to concealment.
Just imagine the hassle the BATF is in a position to dole out.
"Do not anger Happy Fun Court by openly exercising your rights!"
We have rights? When did _that_ haapen?
--Tim May
-- Yours, J.A. Terranson sysadmin@mfn.org If Governments really want us to behave like civilized human beings, they should give serious consideration towards setting a better example: Ruling by force, rather than consensus; the unrestrained application of unjust laws (which the victim-populations were never allowed input on in the first place); the State policy of justice only for the rich and elected; the intentional abuse and occassionally destruction of entire populations merely to distract an already apathetic and numb electorate... This type of demogoguery must surely wipe out the fascist United States as surely as it wiped out the fascist Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The views expressed here are mine, and NOT those of my employers, associates, or others. Besides, if it *were* the opinion of all of those people, I doubt there would be a problem to bitch about in the first place... --------------------------------------------------------------------
-- On 6 Nov 2001, at 15:20, measl@mfn.org wrote:
"Taser" is the stun gun to which I was referrring as unsaleable (is that a word?) to mere civilians.
The web page http://www.airtaser.com/ seems to claim it is legal in California. --digsig James A. Donald 6YeGpsZR+nOTh/cGwvITnSR3TdzclVpR0+pr3YYQdkG 529sRmfZ4y6i8fWTL69Px67yTjPWEtrN6r/Kr1qM 4egqrA040PHa64nGnp76N7x0DUI5wYJmg//psgCUz
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Tim May