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Queens senior citizen who shot dead a man who tried to rob him will spend four years in prison after admitting to toting an unlicensed revolver — as his lawyer ripped the city's "draconian" gun laws.
Charles Foehner, 67, pleaded guilty to one count of criminal weapons possession Thursday in a deal to end his case more than two years after he fatally shot would-be thief Cody Gonzalez, who charged at him near his Kew Gardens home..."
Fair or not fair ?
AI GENERATED CRITIQUE:
The rest of the story:
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What Happened
1. Incident & Self-Defense
Charles Foehner (67) shot and killed Cody Gonzalez on May 31, 2023, near Foehner's home in Kew Gardens, Queens.
Foehner claims he acted in self-defense: Gonzalez reportedly charged at him, holding what looked like a knife.
However, the "knife" turned out to be a pen.
Surveillance footage supports that Gonzalez continued charging even after Foehner drew his gun.
2. Weapons Found
During a search of Foehner's home, police found more than 25 firearms.
He was only licensed for 5 of them.
Also recovered: 152 high-capacity magazines, body armor, rifles (including AK-style) among others.
3. Legal Outcome
Foehner pleaded guilty to one count of criminal weapons possession.
As part of a plea deal, he is to be sentenced to 4 years in prison.
He avoided homicide or manslaughter charges for the shooting itself.
His lawyer, Thomas Kenniff, attacked NYC's gun laws, calling them "draconian."
Foehner remains free until the sentencing hearing, scheduled for January 14, 2026.
4. Public / Advocacy Reaction
Gun rights advocates strongly criticize this outcome. For example, the CCRKBA called the laws "despicable" and said Foehner should be protected, not punished.
His attorney argues that if New York made it more practical for law-abiding citizens to legally carry or own arms, situations like this wouldn't happen.
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Analysis & Implications
Self-Defense but Illegal Gun: The core tension here is between Foehner's right to self-defense and the fact that the firearm he used was unlicensed. Even if the shooting is justified, New York's gun laws heavily penalize unlicensed weapons.
Gun Laws Scrutiny: This case is being used by some as an example of how strict gun regulations in NYC can penalize people who defend themselves. Critics argue that the laws protect criminals more than citizens.
Risk of Over-Arsenal: The large number of weapons found in his home likely made the prosecution's case much stronger. Even if he used just one gun in the incident, possession of many unlicensed firearms is a serious crime under state law.
Legal Trade-Off: By taking a plea deal, Foehner avoided a trial where he could have faced much more time (reports say up to 25 years on gun charges).
Broader Debate: This is part of the larger national debate on gun control, particularly in high-regulation jurisdictions like New York. It raises questions about how gun laws interact with the right to self-defense.
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