Slings and Arrows

The New York Court of Appeals affirmed an order holding that a bow is not a firearm

While the term “firearm” is undefined in the Town Law, construing it in accordance with its “usual and commonly understood meaning” (Yaniveth R. v LTD Realty Co., 27 NY3d 186, 192 [2016] [internal quotation marks and citation omitted]), the term “firearm” does not encompass a “bow” (see Black’s Law Dictionary [4th ed rev 1968]; Ballentine’s Law Dictionary [3rd ed 1969]; see also Penal Law § 265.00 [3]; ECL § 11-0931 [4] [a] [2]), and we are unpersuaded that the Legislature intended otherwise when it used the term in the Town Law. Accordingly, Town Law § 130 (27) does not authorize Smithtown to regulate the discharge of bows.

(Mike Frisch)