General Discussion

jmowreader

(53,038 posts) Tue Mar 11, 2014, 03:52 PM Mar 2014

Is a bow a "firearm"? [View all]

A magistrate judge in Idaho is deciding this right now. The cops in Oldtown, Idaho, hauled someone in for "unlawful possession of a firearm due to felony conviction." The subject was convicted of felony drug possession and of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter in 2006, not sure if it was at the same time. (He was charged with felony vehicular manslaughter for killing a man in a car crash, but convicted of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter.)

Under Idaho Code, it's illegal for anyone with a felony conviction to possess a firearm. The code also defines a firearm:

"A firearm is any weapon from which a shot, projectile or other object may be discharged by force of combustion, explosive, gas and/or mechanical means, whether operable or inoperable."

So...is a bow a firearm?

92 replies

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Highlight:

Is a bow a "firearm"? [View all] jmowreader Mar 2014 OP

mechanical means - seems to cover bows. Warren Stupidity Mar 2014 #1

Manual, not mechanical frazzled Mar 2014 #4

If it is a compound bow... awoke_in_2003 Mar 2014 #19

Sure ... I was thinking of those ... frazzled Mar 2014 #20

Thinking about it... awoke_in_2003 Mar 2014 #23

A lever by definition is a simple machine. Seems to fit the "mechanical" definition. eom tarheelsunc Mar 2014 #39

Yes, but their definition is bunk... awoke_in_2003 Mar 2014 #44

Even a recurve would be a machine jmowreader Mar 2014 #88

Yeah, I corrected that in another post... awoke_in_2003 Mar 2014 #91

Yes, a bow is a machine jberryhill Mar 2014 #25

It's powered manually frazzled Mar 2014 #28

Ask any engineer - a bow is a machine. Maedhros Mar 2014 #30

Actually, a knife is a double inclined plane.. X_Digger Mar 2014 #49

You're correct, but I think it's prudent to think of the law in terms of Archimedean simple machines Maedhros Mar 2014 #50

A screw is an inclined plane wrapped around an axis, but yeah, I get your point. n/t X_Digger Mar 2014 #53

Okay, I'll bite..... jberryhill Mar 2014 #60

It doesn't, I was just addressing one point. X_Digger Mar 2014 #63

So what? Most machines are powered manually jberryhill Mar 2014 #35

Oh, for ef's sake frazzled Mar 2014 #40

What does "common lingustic usage" have to do with anything here? jberryhill Mar 2014 #41

Therefore a bicycle is not a machine? lumberjack_jeff Mar 2014 #66

not mechanical would be you picking up an arrow and chucking it yourself. Warren Stupidity Mar 2014 #59

"...any weapon from which a projectile or other object may be discharged by mechanical means" n/t cherokeeprogressive Mar 2014 #64

According to the definition, yes. 1000words Mar 2014 #2

I agree -- a bow and arrow meets their definition of a "firearm" rocktivity Mar 2014 #13

Lets round up the children... NutmegYankee Mar 2014 #18

What do children have to do with it? kcr Mar 2014 #68

A nerf gun technically meets the state definition of a firearm. NutmegYankee Mar 2014 #69

You didn't answer my question kcr Mar 2014 #70

I did answer your question. NutmegYankee Mar 2014 #71

What is absurd about it? kcr Mar 2014 #72

Guess it depends on what one considers a weapon. NutmegYankee Mar 2014 #73

It's a toy. kcr Mar 2014 #74

And I say it's a weapon. NutmegYankee Mar 2014 #75

And I say I'm president of the world kcr Mar 2014 #76

You missed the joke 5 posts ago. NutmegYankee Mar 2014 #77

It meets their definition kcr Mar 2014 #78

We'll he'll, just because their felons... NutmegYankee Mar 2014 #79

You forgot bathtubs. kcr Mar 2014 #81

You're right we should! NutmegYankee Mar 2014 #83

Voting rights? Absolutely. kcr Mar 2014 #84

That's a knee jerk reaction though. NutmegYankee Mar 2014 #85

I wouldn't be opposed to saying non violent crimes could be exempt kcr Mar 2014 #86

A Nerf gun is neither a weapon nor a firearm rocktivity Mar 2014 #92

A bicycle is operated manually 1000words Mar 2014 #26

Slingshots inNJ windje Mar 2014 #82

no it is not Vattel Mar 2014 #3

Can you throw an arrow as far as a bow can launch it? 1000words Mar 2014 #5

is a slingshot a machine? a yo-yo? Vattel Mar 2014 #10

Slingshot, yes. 1000words Mar 2014 #22

Yeah I guess it is hard to avoid the conclusion that a bow is a machine. Vattel Mar 2014 #51

I don't think you can get anything but a compound bow in North Idaho jmowreader Mar 2014 #14

nah Vattel Mar 2014 #16

It's all a matter of definition. NuclearDem Mar 2014 #17

I don't think the scientific definition is the relevant one. Vattel Mar 2014 #45

In the absence of a legal definition of "mechanical" then I think it is. n/t lumberjack_jeff Mar 2014 #67

A bow is a lever. A lever is a simple macnine . nt flamin lib Mar 2014 #6

Common sense tells you it is not. NutmegYankee Mar 2014 #7

Of course it's not a firearm. NuclearDem Mar 2014 #8

It may not be a firearm, RebelOne Mar 2014 #11

No argument there. NuclearDem Mar 2014 #15

Interesting question sarisataka Mar 2014 #9

By that definition, yes. Otherwise, no. aikoaiko Mar 2014 #12

Nope. No fire. Lizzie Poppet Mar 2014 #21

Not sure, it might be "ghost gun"! NYC_SKP Mar 2014 #24

Surely many are. H2O Man Mar 2014 #27

Crossbows are considered deadly weapons marions ghost Mar 2014 #29

Showing my age but... TXPaganBanker Mar 2014 #31

Was just going to use the Dukes of Hazard defense, too. frazzled Mar 2014 #32

Under that law, probably... but don't overlook "discharge" cthulu2016 Mar 2014 #33

I think that's more likely to be the word this turns on muriel_volestrangler Mar 2014 #47

Our local city ordinance ..... oldhippie Mar 2014 #34

There is no question. Under those definitions a bow is a firearm. nt stevenleser Mar 2014 #36

Maybe a cross bow. Don't think the string twanging variety could be called Cleita Mar 2014 #37

exactly. the definitions under which a bow is a machine have absurd consequences. Vattel Mar 2014 #46

By that statute, perhaps, but not in common usage. bluedigger Mar 2014 #38

According to that definition Kelvin Mace Mar 2014 #42

It's a projectile weapon. Iggo Mar 2014 #43

Yes. Is this a problem? Sincerely, Katniss Everdeen. nt Zorra Mar 2014 #48

According to that statute it is, but that doesn't jive with federal law. AtheistCrusader Mar 2014 #52

Yes it is. And my earlier post which said "no it is not" is clearly wrong. Vattel Mar 2014 #54

I sure as hell wouldn't want to be shot by one... countryjake Mar 2014 #55

1. Can a person prohibited by law from possessing a firearm acquire and use a black powder 30cal Mar 2014 #56

According to Idaho law, he could not jmowreader Mar 2014 #89

A bow is not a firearm, and hang the Idaho Code derby378 Mar 2014 #57

According to that definition, yes nadinbrzezinski Mar 2014 #58

Idaho Statutes struggle4progress Mar 2014 #61

Can a felon hunt with a bow in Idaho? (Idaho Fish and Game website) struggle4progress Mar 2014 #62

I wonder when the last violation of 18-5003 was jmowreader Mar 2014 #90

Let's ask this guy: Brigid Mar 2014 #65

Acording to that definition. jschurchin Mar 2014 #80

A prime example of piss-poor legislative drafting. (nt) Paladin Mar 2014 #87