General Discussion

jberryhill

(62,444 posts)

41. What does "common lingustic usage" have to do with anything here?

Tue Mar 11, 2014, 05:01 PM

Mar 2014

When you have a statute that defines a word, then the only definition that matters is the one in the statute.

If a statute defines a "dog" as "a four legged mammal", then a cat is a dog, and an amputee dog is not a dog. It's not hard to understand.

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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