Now don’t get me wrong, Firearms real or fake have no place in school and for every one mature teenager there are a dozen idiots to take his place. However, what I thought was interesting was the Massachusetts law concerning the definition of a firearm on school grounds. You see, apparently not only can the definition of a firearm change but now a soda straw and a spit wad on school grounds is now classified as a firearm …
“According to Massachusetts General Law chapter 269, section 10, paragraph (j) regarding weapons on school grounds, “‘firearm’ shall mean any pistol, revolver, rifle or smoothbore arm from which a shot, bullet or pellet can be discharged by whatever means.”
… So when does a location make a firearm more or less deadly. I guess under this law it is ok for a teenager to enter a grocery store with a fake gun or is there another law just as vague that covers this. I understand the feeble attempt they are trying to make, but It would seem that we could solve the issue if we would just charge any minor as an adult if caught with a firearm during a commission of a crime. Then the spit wads would be safe again. – Stone Wolf
Posted on http://www.wickedlocal.com
BELMONT, MASS. – Police have charged a 14-year-old Belmont boy with possession of a firearm on school property after he allegedly brought a BB gun to a dance at the Butler Elementary School last week.
According to police, an officer who was providing security at the Recreation Department Youth Center Grades 6 to 8 dance on Sept. 25, confronted a group of teenagers. After a brief investigation, the officer recovered an Airsoft BB gun from the backpack of one of the boys.
Lt. Richard Santangelo, a spokesman for the department, said he could not comment on specifics of the incident, including why the officer initially questioned the boys or if there was any indication of why the boy brought the BB gun to the dance because the incident is still under investigation.
On its Web site, Airsoft advertises a wide range of BB guns designed to look like scale replicas of real handguns, shotguns, and assault rifles distinguished by a bright orange tip on the barrel.
Santangelo said the BB gun recovered from the boy was made of clear plastic, but he did not know if it was loaded.
Santangelo said bringing a BB gun onto school property falls under the charge of possession of a firearm under state law.
“It’s a little broader when you’re on school grounds what qualifies as a firearm,” he said.
According to Massachusetts General Law chapter 269, section 10, paragraph (j) regarding weapons on school grounds, “‘firearm’ shall mean any pistol, revolver, rifle or smoothbore arm from which a shot, bullet or pellet can be discharged by whatever means.”
Still, Santangelo said carrying a BB gun on school grounds is still dangerous and considered a serious offense.
“Certainly, you wouldn’t want to get hit in the eye with one of those. When you get hit it leaves a nice red welt and then there’s obviously what it can be mistaken for,” he said. “Bringing something like that to a school function is something we take seriously in this day and age.”
Airsoft BB guns fire a hard plastic pellet, slightly larger than a traditional metal BB, according to Santangelo.
Santangelo said officers have recovered Airsoft BB guns in the past with the distinctive orange tip covered with black permanent marker, making them virtually indistinguishable from real guns.
