WV GUN CASE GOES TO US SUPREME COURT

(05/02/2008)

A West Virginia case involving gun rights is on its way to the United States Supreme Court. In 1994, Randy Hayes of Marion County pled guilty under state law to a misdemeanor battery offense against his ex-wife. In 1996, it became a federal law that you can't own a gun if you're convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor. In 2004, police say they found a Winchester rifle at Hayes' home. The government argues that because of his guilty plea to misdemeanor battery Hayes is not allowed to own a gun. But Hayes and his lawyer disagree. They say it's not fair to apply a law that was passed in 1996 to an offense that happened in 1994. They also say Hayes pled guilty to a state misdemeanor battery charge, which is different from a federal domestic violence misdemeanor. The case is expected to go before the Court sometime this fall. The Court decision could influence gun laws all over the country.

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