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Police charge two men for firing 'potato gun'
Gazette ^
| Eric Kelderman
Posted on 12/18/2001 7:43:07 AM PST by Sir Gawain
Police charge two men for firing 'potato gun'
by Eric Kelderman
Staff Writer
Dec. 12, 2001 Several Rockville and Montgomery County Police were called to 5719 Ridgeway Ave. in Rockville last Thursday with reports of a gun being fired and a possible injury.
More than a dozen officers from both agencies set up a perimeter around the house, then telephoned to talk the suspects out, according to Rockville Chief of Police Terrance N. Treschuk.
Police reported that they found two men shooting a "potato gun" -- a homemade weapon designed to shoot potatoes.
The potato gun is two pieces of heavy plastic tubing about three feet in length, according to Capt. Michael England of the Rockville City Police Department. The base of the weapon, about four inches in diameter, is filled with a flammable aerosol, and has an ignition device like one used to start a gas grill, he said.
The longer section is about two inches in diameter, England said, and holds the potato. The igniter sparks the flammable aerosol and the resulting force shoots out the potato.
The two men were shooting at a shed, a car and into the air, according to Rockville City spokesman Neil H. Greenberger.
Christopher King, 19, and James Butts, 18, were arrested and charged with violating the city ordinance against discharging a weapon and reckless endangerment, Greenberger said.
The two face a possible $500 fine for discharging a weapon, according to Treschuk.
TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: banglist
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To: bang_list
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To: sirgawain
If it shot french fries, would that be considered an as-salt weapon?
To: sirgawain
4
posted on
12/18/2001 7:49:25 AM PST
by
dighton
To: RedBloodedAmerican
If you wrap the potatoes in aluminum foil, do they become armor-piercing?
5
posted on
12/18/2001 7:50:14 AM PST
by
dirtboy
To: sirgawain
Wonder how serious it would have been if they had used a Banana Cannon?
6
posted on
12/18/2001 7:50:18 AM PST
by
Dimensio
To: sirgawain
The longer section is about two inches in diameter, England said, and holds the potato. I wonder if the gun-grabbers will start describing this device as a "200 caliber biological weapon".
7
posted on
12/18/2001 7:51:11 AM PST
by
Bob
To: sirgawain
I thought the Santa Claus incident proved, beyond doubt, that authorities in Rockville and Montgomery County have absolutely no sense of humor. Those two kids must have read Dave Barry's column about potato guns when they were in junior high school. I would prefer young guys constructing homemade potato guns to young guys converting to heathen religions and taking up arms against their country. I certainly hope those kids get a break. AdR
8
posted on
12/18/2001 7:53:11 AM PST
by
3AngelaD
To: sirgawain
First they want to ban smoking, and now they don't want anyone firing spud guns!? What is it with Montgomery County, do they hate anyone having fun?
discharging a weapon
Is it a weapon or a toy? Maybe just a tool.
9
posted on
12/18/2001 7:54:22 AM PST
by
the
To: sirgawain
Well, it
is pretty stupid to fire those things off in town. They deserve their fine.
That said, the gentlemen would do well to look Here for pointers on a next-generation weapon....
10
posted on
12/18/2001 7:54:33 AM PST
by
r9etb
To: sirgawain
If only the doughnut launcher attachment had been operational, it would have distracted the police.
Heh, heh, I've had one of these for years that I built myself. It is defineately a 'country' device and I would not reccommend using it in populated areas.
I can get about 300 - 400 yards out of mine with the right projectile, fuel-air mix, etc.
Aquanet Super Hold RULES!
11
posted on
12/18/2001 7:56:34 AM PST
by
TC Rider
To: sirgawain
Give 'em 20 years of HASH browns!
To: sirgawain
"and James Butts, 18" Wonder if he has any sisters?
13
posted on
12/18/2001 7:57:12 AM PST
by
Inge_CAV
To: sirgawain
The two face a possible $500 fine for discharging a weapon, according to Treschuk Anyone have stats on how many potato guns have killed people, or how many robberies or assualts have been commited with the 'extremely lethal' (/sarcasm) potato guns ?
To: dirtboy
So do chidren now have to register their ammo purchases at Toys R Us? Where is Feinstein?
To: sirgawain
Next they'll call shooting paper wads with a rubber band "discharging a weapon". Montgomery County is an embarrassment to Maryland, as Maryland is to the rest of the country.
16
posted on
12/18/2001 8:00:26 AM PST
by
DE50AE
To: Inge_CAV
1. Name is Bertha.
To: sirgawain
A potato(e) gun is what the Idaho National Guard uses.
To: TC Rider
I had one that I used in the country, but when I moved into town, I sold it for $20. And as far as your "Aquanet" statement, Have you tried Acetyline? or shaved down golf balls instead of potatoes? FUN, FUN, FUN!
To: sirgawain
Wouldn't you think they had something better to do than arresting teenagers for firing a potato gun? A warning, maybe, if the location was dangerous. But good grief, can't a boy have fun any more?
I witnessed a potato gun in action the summer before last on an Island in Maine. It was awesome. The propellant, believe it or not, was a certain kind of hair spray, sprayed into the firing chamber from an aerosol can and ignited with a kind of barbecue sparker.
20
posted on
12/18/2001 8:04:17 AM PST
by
Cicero
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