United States v. Jeffrey Wayne Sturgis

“A fundamental canon of statutory construction is that, unless otherwise defined, words will be interpreted as taking their ordinary, contemporary, common meaning.” Perrin v. United States, 444 U.S. 37, 42, 100 S.Ct. 311, 314, 62 L.Ed.2d 199 (1979), quoted in United States v. Wilson, 796 F.2d 55, 58 (4th Cir.1986). Because teeth, however much they can be or are employed to visit violence upon others, are not “dangerous weapons” as that term is commonly understood, I would reverse the assault convictions of defendant and remand for further proceedings.

The result reached by the majority and the…