28 Va. App. 393 - Gregory v. Commonwealth’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

12 state decisions

Most-quoted passages

The sentences later courts lift from this opinion, ranked by how many decisions quote each — the parts of the opinion doing the work. These counts are smaller than the citation total above because most of the 12 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “Code § 18.2-308.2 prohibits a felon from possessing a device that has the actual capacity to do serious harm because of its ability to expel a projectile by the power of an explosion, and it is not concerned with the use or display of a device that may have the appearance of a firearm. Therefore, we hold that the term "firearm" as used in Code § 18.2-308.2 is used in its traditional sense. The statute does not seek to protect the public from fear of harm caused by the display of weapons; rather, it is concerned with preventing a person, who is known to have committed a serious crime in the past, from becoming dangerously armed, regardless of whether that person uses, displays, or conceals the firearm. "It shall be unlawful for any person who has been convicted of a felony... to ... possess or transport any firearm or to ... carry about his person, [even if] hid[den] from common observation, any weapon described in § 18.2-308 A."”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. 36 Va. App. 312 - Armstrong v. Commonwealth · 33 Va. App. 796 - Williams v. Commonwealth

2. “Although the Commonwealth failed to explain how the rifle operated or to present ballistics evidence, Detective Mooney examined the weapon and testified that it was a .22 caliber, Remington Model 522 semi-automatic rifle. In his testimony, he referred to the weapon as a “firearm.” The rifle and the loaded magazine were introduced as exhibits and were evidence from which the jury could infer that the rifle was designed or intended to expel( projectiles by the power of explosion of gunpowder.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 33 Va. App. 796 - Williams v. Commonwealth

3. “It shall be unlawful for any person who has been convicted of a felony... to ... possess or transport any firearm or to ... carry about his person, [even if] hid[den] from common observation, any weapon described in § 18.2-308 A.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 36 Va. App. 312 - Armstrong v. Commonwealth