Drunk gun owner shoots leg off man, wonders why he's now a felon.

[BurkGlocker]

We obviously need an Amendment to the US Constitution that outlaws the manufacture and consumption of alcohol.

Doing that will definitely solve these kinds of problems.

We tried this once, it was called Prohibition, and it made us idolize criminals and then it was eventually repealed because the government couldnt control it, just like they cant control the illegal drugs coming into our country daily.

I agree that the guy was an idiot to the full definition of the word, but outright outlawing alcohol because of it, no, but outlawing it in state parks, yes.

Alcohol has fueled alot of stupid thing, but you have to remember, its helped ugly people get better looking for many, many years...

 

[Al Norris]

Idaho, unlike many other States, has kept many, many crimes at the misdemeanor level. As for felonies, while we don't have various classifications, we do use what used to be common sense in determining the severity of the offense and its punishment.

Consider this law:

18-3304. AIMING FIREARMS AT OTHERS. Any person who shall intentionally, without malice, point or aim any firearm at or toward any other person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) and not less than five dollars ($5.00).

Notice, no jail time? But what if you actually shoot at someone?

18-3305. DISCHARGE OF ARMS AIMED AT ANOTHER. Any person who shall discharge, without injury to any person, any firearm, while intentionally, without malice, aimed at or toward any person, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be liable to a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed six (6) months, or both, at the discretion of the court.

Then if you actually injure another:

18-3306. INJURING ANOTHER BY DISCHARGE OF AIMED FIREARMS. Any person who shall maim or injure any other person by the discharge of any firearm pointed or aimed, intentionally but without malice, at any such person, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not more than one (1) year; and if death ensue from such wounding or maiming, such person so offending shall be deemed guilty of the crime of manslaughter.

All of this is what we refer to as a natural progression. All without malice aforethought, I should remind you. Attach malice, and the crime(s) becomes a felony. Injuring others by negligent discharge, is still a misdemeanor, but carries both jail time and fines, whereas the foregoing were fines or jail, but not both.

I can only speculate, as none of the reports I've viewed carry the actual charge the man was convicted of. So... Aggravated Assault. Max 5 years and/or $15K in fines.

To those of you that think our laws are too lenient... Stay the heck away from us!

 

[Socrates]

Alcohol does diminish capacity. The paper said he shot at the person, the idiot said he shot at the raft. Intent difference.

Also, don't know if this was in a Federal or state park, and, if it was in Federal or state court.

Federal courts are much less inclined to be lenient, and, the appellate courts are much more likely to reverse and remand
if the sentence is not according to the law.

 

[obxned]

If you can't do the time, then don't do the crime. Blasting innocent people is almost always socially a faux pas, and often illegal.