Pennsylvania man's 'gun-like gesture' ruled to be crime

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

A Pennsylvania court has ruled making a gun-like gesture with your hand can be a crime.

On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Superior Court ruled that the gesture, made in 2017 by Stephen Kirchner, made his neighbor feel unsafe, WPXI-TV reported. Kirchner was ordered to pay $100 and court costs.

“Kirchner argued on appeal that the gesture did not cause a hazardous or physically offensive condition, that he did not intend to cause public alarm, and that there essentially was no harm done to the victim or society,” a statement from the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office said.

But the Superior Court disagreed, saying the gun-like gesture "risked an altercation" between the neighbors, WGAL-TV reported.