![]() State prosecutors took the position that Weeks’ firearm was not an exact copy of a weapon manufactured before 1918 - due to the scope - and his conviction should stand. State law defines an antique firearm as any gun that used a “matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar early type of ignition system or replica thereof” or was made before 1918. Yet, authorities argued the scope modernized the gun.įacing a jury trial, Weeks pleaded no contest and received three years probation. However, a 2013 District Court reversed that ruling on appeal, citing state law was unconstitutionally vague and, even though Weeks had added a scope to the muzzleloader, the addition was not enough to make the black powder percussion gun a modern firearm. ![]() 50-caliber muzzleloader equipped with a scope, a gun he received as a Christmas present after researching guns a felon could possess. Weeks had been hunting with a Traditions. 4, 2012, after a Florida Fish and Game Wildlife officer stopped him on state land during primitive weapon season for deer hunting. The case involves Christopher Weeks who was charged for being a felon in possession of a firearm on Feb. ![]() The Florida Supreme Court in a 5-2 ruling overturned the conviction of a man for being a felon in possession of a firearm because the gun he was using wasn’t considered modern under state law. 50 cal percussion muzzle loader, similar to the one seen here, made it a modern firearm under state law. Prosecutors argued for four years that the scope Christopher Weeks added to his Traditions.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |