Gabriel Metcalf Arrested for Carrying
Gun in Federal Gun Free Zone

By Dean Weingarten. Aug 29, 2023

ATF agents arrested Gabriel Cowan Metcalf for possessing a firearm in the controversial "gun free school zone" defined by federal law, on August 23, 2023. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm within a thousand feet of a school. The law was found to be unconstitutional in 1994, re-passed with slightly different language in 1994, then re-passed with minor changes in 1996. It has not been subject to scrutiny by the Supreme Court since before the Heller decision in 2008. Under the Bruen decision, which reinforced the Heller decision in 2022, the gun free school zone act is blatantly unconstitutional. From justice.gov:

BILLINGS — A Billings man accused of illegally possessing a gun near a Billings elementary school appeared today in federal court on a firearms charge, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Gabriel Cowan Metcalf, 49, had an initial appearance on a criminal complaint charging him with possessing a firearm within a school zone. If convicted, Metcalf faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $100,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. Metcalf was detained pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that from Aug. 2 to 17, the Billings Police Department received multiple calls and weapons complaints regarding Metcalf .....

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