20 years for shot in the Air.

View · by **gunsmith** on Wed Mar 05, 2014 1:43 am

A 47-year-old Philadelphia man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for firing a weapon into the air.

Francis Aponte was at an outdoor party in June 2012 when two Philadelphia police officers saw him shoot a gun into the air.

KYW-AM said that act, along with a criminal record including at least one prior felony, has resulted in the 20-year sentence handed down Tuesday.

No one was hurt, but federal prosecutor Jose Arteaga argued that the defendant committed a potentially lethal offense.

Arteaga noted several prior instances of children and adults being killed or disabled in similar incidents in Philadelphia.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/03/05/ph ... +-+Text%29

View · by **cobb** on Wed Mar 05, 2014 11:23 am

gunsmith wrote:...that act, along with a criminal record including at least one prior felony, has resulted in the 20-year sentence...

Maybe the criminal record and a prior felony, so a felon in possession of a firearm had something to do with a 20 year sentence, ya think?

View · by **gun_fan111** on Wed Mar 05, 2014 11:40 am

This actually touches on a question I always had. Now I know a felon cannot own a firearm. But can they borrow one and go to a range or hunting?

View · by **xd ED** on Wed Mar 05, 2014 11:49 am

Possession is the key word.

View · by **Rip Van Winkle** on Wed Mar 05, 2014 12:04 pm

The story says,

two Philadelphia police officers saw him shoot a gun into the air

I suspect there was more going on which brought the officers out.

I shed no tears.

View · by **Lunchbox** on Wed Mar 05, 2014 12:13 pm

In the same boat as Rip. As gets tossed around here quite often, "play stupid games win stupid prizes". Even IF he had had his rights restored, doing something so stupid and careless, he got what he deserves.

View · by **LarryFlew** on Wed Mar 05, 2014 1:05 pm

gun_fan111 wrote:This actually touches on a question I always had. Now I know a felon cannot own a firearm. But can they borrow one and go to a range or hunting?

No they cannot.

View · by **gunsmith** on Wed Mar 05, 2014 1:09 pm

What would the sentence be in MN....2nd degree murder is 17 years (I"m guessing) The Philly guy was 'recklessly endangering' someone...20 years....that's HALF a person's 40year useful life (age 20-60)

Had to be something else as well.

View · by **xd ED** on Wed Mar 05, 2014 1:15 pm

gun_fan111 wrote:This actually touches on a question I always had. Now I know a felon cannot own a firearm. But can they borrow one and go to a range or hunting?

I suspect one might end up in trouble if, as a gun owner you took a felon to a range and allowed him/ her to shot your gun. Similarly, a gun owner should probably avoid felons for roommates.

View · by **gun_fan111** on Thu Mar 06, 2014 3:14 pm

xd ED wrote:
gun_fan111 wrote:This actually touches on a question I always had. Now I know a felon cannot own a firearm. But can they borrow one and go to a range or hunting?

I suspect one might end up in trouble if, as a gun owner you took a felon to a range and allowed him/ her to shot your gun. Similarly, a gun owner should probably avoid felons for roommates.

Thanks for the clarification.

View · by **LarryFlew** on Thu Mar 06, 2014 10:28 pm

Including at least one prior felony. Has to be the biggy here.