The North Carolina Court of Appeals judges unanimously ruled that the state’s firearm storage law does not apply to unloaded guns. A woman’s involuntary manslaughter conviction was overturned in connection with the death of a teenager who shot himself using an unsecured gun at her home. The court interpreted the law narrowly, stating that it only applies if the gun is loaded.
The case involved Kimberly Cable, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and failure to store a firearm to protect a minor. Her son’s friend accessed an unloaded revolver and ammunition from her home, leading to a tragic incident. The court found that the gun was not stored in a condition that could be discharged, leading to the overturning of her conviction.
The judges also dismissed a second firearm storage conviction due to lack of evidence. The remaining involuntary manslaughter conviction was vacated as it was based on the overturned misdemeanor conviction. State prosecutors argued against the interpretation of the law, stating that the gun was operable and accessible to minors.
The state may appeal the decision to the North Carolina Supreme Court. Please rephrase this sentence.
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