by Lea Bickerton | Aug 15, 2009 | Case Law Summaries, Drug Crimes, Gun Crimes, Mandatory Sentence
Commonwealth v. Wayne McKibben 2009 PA Super 130 (7/14/2009)Topic: Mandatory Sentences – Drugs in Close Proximity to FirearmsSummary: Where firearms are found loaded, readily accessible to the defendant, and in the same room as drugs, the mandatory sentence...
by Lea Bickerton | Jan 27, 2009 | Case Law Summaries, Gun Crimes
Commonwealth v. McCoy J-48-2008Topic: Firearm Offenses-Discharge of Weapon into an Occupied StructureSummary: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court held that a person cannot be convicted of discharging a firearm into an occupied structure if the defendant is inside the...
by Lea Bickerton | Nov 30, 2008 | Gun Crimes, High Profile Cases
Friday night, former-Pittsburgh Steeler and current New York Giant Plaxico Burress accidentally shot himself in the thigh while in a New York club. Although the obvious lesson to be learned from Burress’ predicament is the importance of carefully handling a...
by Lea Bickerton | Nov 19, 2008 | Gun Crimes
In Nebraska, federal attorneys had a difficult time prosecuting a defendant for a firearm they discovered after arresting him. Under federal law, a gun is not a “firearm” unless it was manufactured after 1896. Although this situation seems rather odd, it...
by Lea Bickerton | Oct 14, 2008 | Gun Crimes, Pittsburgh City Ordinances
The Pittsburgh City Council is proposing fines for gun owners who fail to report their lost or stolen guns within 24 hours. If the resolution is passed, offenders would face a $500 fine for the first offense and a $1000 fine or 90 days in jail for a second offense.For...
