By Paul Lathrop | Contributing Editor
In December 2018, Police searched former NYPD detective William Nolen’s home and found two Mossberg Shockwaves and a stun gun.
Nolen was arrested and charged with felonies that could have placed him in prison for 15 years. On Wednesday, the New York State Supreme Court Judge dismissed the charges against Nolan.
According to EIN Presswire, Nolan’s attorney, Peter Tilem took a swipe at New York’s gun control laws.
“It is my hope that prosecutors will think twice before charging law abiding individuals with simple possession of firearms,” Tilem said. “This case, along with so many others, demonstrates the injustices caused by complex, opaque, and confusing gun control statutes that even law enforcement and prosecutors do not understand.”
The Mossburg Shockwave is a pump-action 5+1 capacity firearm that chambers 3-inch 12-gauge shotgun shells in its most common configuration. Models that chamber 20 gauge and .410 shells are also sold.
What makes the Shockwave unique in New York law is that it isn’t a shotgun because New York State law states that a shotgun is designed to be fired from the shoulder. Something that the bird’s head grip of the Mossburg doesn’t allow. Similarly, it is not a handgun, as the Shockwave is designed to be fired with two hands.
“While I am terribly upset that a man who lawfully possessed legally purchased firearms was indicted and spent the last two years of his life facing a 15-year prison sentence,” the attorney said, “I am deeply gratified that once Tilem & Associates got involved in the case, we were able to quickly get these charges dismissed.”
Nolan has filed a federal lawsuit against New York City for civil rights abuses.
