Published on: Thursday, August 15, 2024
Late one night a Pittsburgh man—a felon on probation—and his girlfriend see shadowy figures breaking into her car behind their house. Girlfriend gets out her handgun she keeps in a safe, hands it to the man, and takes her three kids out of the house and to safety. Man then confronts the figures, who flee, but while fleeing he fires shots and hits one in the thigh. Man dutifully calls his probation officer and admits to this—for which he's charged with being a felon "in possession" and sentenced to 84 months imprisonment. Second Amendment violation? Third Circuit: History, tradition, and Shays' Rebellion. Conviction affirmed.
The case is United States v. Moore, No. 23-1843 (3d Cir. Aug. 2, 2024).