MASON CITY – The Mason city Police Department was notified shortly after midnight on June 26, 2012 about occupants of a vehicle shooting paintballs on the south side of Mason City.
Officers quickly located the vehicle and conducted an investigation.
The officers located several paintball guns inside the vehicle along with four occupants. The occupants were charged with discharging a firearm within city limits, a violation of a city ordinance.
The occupants of the vehicle, all from Mason City, were identified as:
– Zachary Sletten, 18 (pictured)
– Drake Shimon, 20
– Wraymond Todd, 18
– Kory Hogfoss, 19
All were cited and released to appear in court at the conclusion of the investigation.
Discharging a firearm within city limits is a simple misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail or a $625.00 fine.
More information: (12012975) Weapon Violation Reported: 06-26-2012 0001
Officers were notified of a vehicle that contained persons suspected of paint-balling private property in the area. Officer located the vehicle, an investigation was done and four adult males were charged with discharging a firearm within the city limits.
Addresses Involved:
700 block of Federal Av S S, Mason City, IA 50401
Names Involved
(Arrested) ############################# (Age:18)
(Address:) 18133 290 St , Mason City, IA 50401
(Arrested) #################### (Age:20)
(Address:) 319 5 St NW, Mason City, IA 50401
(Arrested) ##################### (Age:19)
(Address:) 194 Grover Av SAPT405, Mason City, IA 50401
(Arrested) ################### (Age:18)
(Address:) 777 Eisenhower Av SLOT150, Mason City, IA 50401
(Complainant) #######################
I didn’t realize a paintball gun was considered a firearm… When you think of firearm, most people think of a weapon that could fatally wound someone…
If people don’t quite understand what I’m getting at with all of this I’ll spell it out. My goal is to get people to no longer be blindly obedient and subservient to the authoritarian state. You obey a law because the law itself is good, not because someone in uniform says you are supposed to obey it. For far too long in this society people have been going along with this underlying current of fear of authority, fear of the law. Our society should not be based on fear, but based on truth, fairness and recognition that our good laws are put in place to protect us all, including the environment, and that to break one of them is not a rebellion against “authority” but damage to every person place and thing which comprises our community. When communities exist because of hegemony, domination, enslavement, dynasty, authoritarianism, dictatorship, the natural result is enmity and ill will amongst the populace. The us and them phenomena. We need to break that down, and begin restoring communities to what they should be…places for everyone to thrive and feel alive. NOt oppressed and in fear. You should not have to avoid Johnny Law officer, because you’re worried he’ll bust you for a marijuana cigarette. This lopsided system has created imbalance and convolution amongst our people…when it’s all really so basic and easy to get along. But to get along, we must first eliminate the authoritarians among us. There is no other way. Authoritarians must be equalized or eliminated. They dictate to us, and create a conditioned response, rather than a true comprehension of why something should or shouldn’t be.
” The two should not be lumped into the same category. It’s just not right. The same goes for someone firing an airgun/bb gun/ etc.”
It is right, and correct. The law qualifies “the lawful use of……”
Add up Peter, how many pets have been killed or maimed by pellet or bb guns. For a fact, my cat has been shot at by a miscreant youth with a pellet gun, AND, the parent excused the behavior, that is until MC PD arrived and changed his attitude.
Five blocks away, kids were shooting at songbirds with a bb gun, item was confiscated.
The qualifier of the ordinance is the bottom line to the whole issue…and which will not interfere with the peaceful use and enjoyment of adjacent property.
Peter, if you were my neighbor “testing” his paintball gun in the back yard, and a projectile went errant, I would most certainly pursue the issue because it would interfere with my right to the peaceful use and enjoyment of adjacent property. (such a thing is a basic constitutional right in the U.S.)
Peter, maybe you should post your address so the next time these kids decide to paintball someones house they have a good target. You sound pretty good for an armchair lawyer, maybe you should run for office and try to change the laws instead of complain about them, me I am satisfied with them.