Opinion ID: 1059347
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: During the oral argument of this appeal, the Commonwealth conceded that an instrument originally designed, made, and intended to expel a projectile by force of an explosion could fall into a state of such significant disrepair or be altered in such a way that it would cease to be a firearm for purposes of applying Code § 18.2-308.2. [6] Such a case, however, is not presented by this appeal. The evidence that Armstrong's rifle was inoperable indicates that it could have been repaired by the adjustment of the spring between the trigger and the hammer or by adjustment of the firing pin. As such, the rifle was clearly not in so serious a state of disrepair that it had lost its characteristic as an instrument designed, made, and intended to expel a projectile by means of an explosion. It is irrelevant that Armstrong may have lacked the requisite skill to effect the needed repair or that he might not have been able to render the rifle immediately operable. [7] The evidence was clearly sufficient to establish that the rifle was designed, made, and intended to expel a projectile by means of an explosion, and that is all the Commonwealth need prove to establish that it was a firearm within the meaning of the statute. Accordingly, we hold that the Court of Appeals did not err in affirming Armstrong's conviction for having possessed a firearm in violation of Code § 18.2-308.2.