Penghu Coast Guard Soldier Sentenced to 4 Months for Brandishing Gun in Traffic Dispute

A Taiwanese coast guard soldier in Penghu faces dismissal from his post after being sentenced to four months in prison for a road rage incident involving a firearm. The soldier, identified by his surname Chen, was a corporal in the Seventh Coastal Patrol Brigade's security inspection office.

According to court documents, the incident occurred on April 18, 2025. Chen was a passenger in a friend's car when he noticed a black pistol on the passenger seat. He then rolled down the window and brandished the airsoft gun, shaking it above the window frame and threatening the public. The weapon was later found to be non-lethal.

In a twist of fate, the driver of the other vehicle was a prosecutor from the Penghu District Prosecutor's Office. The prosecutor immediately alerted the police, who intercepted the vehicle in Magong City. Authorities seized three airsoft pistols, a gas canister, and BB pellets.

Chen claimed he was merely rolling down the window to clear smoke from the car and was not intentionally brandishing the weapon. He stated he was examining the gun, holding it below the window line, after a companion provoked him by saying, "You can do it, it's not illegal." However, the court relied on dashcam footage showing the window lowering and the sound of it operating, leading to his conviction for public intimidation.

While Chen can pay a fine to avoid jail time, the conviction jeopardizes his military career. He is expected to lose his job in October, paying a steep price for his momentary aggression.

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You can do it, it's not illegal