State v. Dasean Harper (077427) (Salem and Statewide)

The Legislature passed an amnesty bill in 2013 that, “for a period of not more than 180 days from the effective date of [the] act,” L. 2013, c. 117, enabled people to dispose of guns they possessed illegally. During that time, the law allowed individuals to transfer or voluntarily surrender firearms. We now consider whether the law effectively created a nearly six-month grace period from prosecution for the illegal possession of firearms.

In this case, a jury convicted defendant Dasean Harper of unlawful possession of a weapon—a .357 Magnum revolver loaded with hollow-point bullets. One year…