CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The New Hampshire Supreme Court says ammunition must be in a weapon and not just near it for a gun to be loaded under state law.

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The New Hampshire Supreme Court says ammunition must be in a weapon and not just near it for a gun to be loaded under state law.



The court's unanimous ruling means the Class A misdemeanor charge against 31-year-old Oriol Dor of Manchester will be thrown out.



During a search of Dor's vehicle in May 2012, police found a semi-automatic pistol and a loaded magazine in his glove compartment.



Prosecutors argued that the law that defines a loaded pistol should be construed broadly to include the proximity of ammunition to the weapon in the interest of public safety.



But the court said that interpretation would create ambiguity about how close to the gun the ammunition had to be to violate the law.



Dor's lawyer didn't immediately return a call seeking comment.