Title: Commonwealth v. Lowary

State: pennsylvania

Issuer: Pennsylvania Supreme Court

Document:

463 Pa. 408 (1975) 345 A.2d 170 COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania v. James W. LOWARY, Jr., Appellant. Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Argued December 5, 1974. Decided October 3, 1975. *409 John R. Merrick, Public Defender, West Chester, for appellant. Timothy H. Knauer, Asst. Dist. Atty., William H. Lamb, Dist. Atty., F. Ned Hand, Asst. Dist. Atty., West Chester, for appellee. Before JONES, C.J., and EAGEN, O'BRIEN, ROBERTS, POMEROY, NIX and MANDERINO, JJ. MANDERINO, Justice. The only issue involved in this appeal is whether a spring-activated hand gun which shoots small steel pellets (commonly called B-B-s), is a "firearm" within the meaning of Section 716 of the Penal Code, Act of June 24, 1939, P.L. 872, 18 P.S. § 4716. The statute proscribes the pointing of "a gun, pistol or other firearm at any other person." (Emphasis added.) The Superior Court, being equally divided, affirmed appellant's conviction for violation of Section 716. Commonwealth v. Lowary, 226 Pa.Super. 115, 313 A.2d 317 (1973). Judge Spaeth wrote an opinion in support of reversal which was joined by Judge Hoffman and Judge Cercone. In his opinion Judge Spaeth said: *411 We agree with the above portion of Judge Spaeth's opinion. We know, however, that the definition of firearm may not be necessarily limited to those weapons from which a shot is dispersed by gunpowder alone. Weapons using some propellant other than gunpowder might also be properly classified as a firearm. Those activated by mechanical means such as springs, however, are not firearms within the statute. Judgment of sentence reversed. JONES, C.J., and POMEROY and NIX, JJ., concur in the result.