Chaosmark
June 10th, 2006, 09:48 PM
I have done at least a partial amount of research into a topic of concern for I'm sure the vast majority of the Forum: explosives laws and regulations. It seems we all "know" that explosives are illegal, and thus our hobby is also. However, in my search to find out exactly what is and isn't allowed, as well as what the consequences are, I have discovered something. Explosives (on the federal level at least) aren't illegal for the private individual to manufacture, possess, or use. Heck, you don't even need a license!
Think I'm crazy? Check this link from the ATFE website: http://www.atf.treas.gov/explarson/fedexplolaw/.
Having read through it, I find that under the Licenses and Permits section (Subpart D), specific mention is given as to who needs to have a permit from the ATF, namely, persons engaging in business activities related to explosives. "Whoop-dee-doo. That doesn't mean that it gives us permission to make or use explosives recreationally." Not quite, but when combined with the rest of the law, it does. Pulling from the Questions and Answers section of the Law, I submit for your approval questions 36 and 38.
36. When is a manufacturer's license
required?
A manufacturer’s license is needed only by persons engaged in the business of manufacturing explosive materials for sale, distribution, or for business use. For example, persons engaged in the business of providing a blasting service using explosives of their own manufacture would be required to have a manufacturer’s license. Persons who manufacture explosives for their personal, nonbusiness use would not need a manufacturer’s license. [27 CFR 55.11: definition of “manufacturer”, 55.41]
38. I want to buy a small quantity of dynamite from my local dealer to use on my property. Do I need a Federal user’s permit?
No, provided the dynamite is purchased in your State of residence and not transported across State lines. A user’s permit is required when a nonlicensee acquires or transports explosive materials in interstate or foreign commerce (see Question 30).
Except for those items and activities given exempt status under 18 U.S.C. 845 (also see 27 CFR 55.141), all persons who store explosive materials must have storage facilities that meet the requirements of 27 CFR Part 55, Subpart K, “Storage”. [18 U.S.C. 842(j); 27 CFR 55.29, 55.201(a)]
Plain as day, the government actually gives us a clear answer for once: the private manufacture and use of explosives for recreation is completely legal. However, something to keep an eye out for is the stipulation that the ATF tossed in elsewhere; everyone, not just licensed persons, who stores explosives must have an approved storage facility. That said, since we tend to consider home explosives dangerous, most of us make ours just prior to their use, so we have nothing to worry about.
State laws do still apply, even though Federal Law falls in our favor for once, and this is where the rest of you Forumites come in. Our task now is to make this a thread where we have all the individual state laws about explosives linked and explained. Alas for all you poor souls in other countries, you have no hope for legal explosives; however, those of us in the United States DO have hope, we just need to go out and find it. With such laws documented in our favor, we could one day come out from the shadows of our laboratories and find the sheeple clapping and cheering us on for our efforts to improve science. If nothing, perhaps we can revive the explosives section of the Forum with some actual tests.
*Note: I did search the Forum to see if this had been done before, but the most recent(http://www.roguesci.org/theforum/water-cooler/3631-legality.html? & http://www.roguesci.org/theforum/links-literature/4089-federal-laws-explosives-2002-a.html?) were from 2004. I therefore figured that such a post would be of use to the forumites, especially considering that the laws have recently been updated.
Think I'm crazy? Check this link from the ATFE website: http://www.atf.treas.gov/explarson/fedexplolaw/.
Having read through it, I find that under the Licenses and Permits section (Subpart D), specific mention is given as to who needs to have a permit from the ATF, namely, persons engaging in business activities related to explosives. "Whoop-dee-doo. That doesn't mean that it gives us permission to make or use explosives recreationally." Not quite, but when combined with the rest of the law, it does. Pulling from the Questions and Answers section of the Law, I submit for your approval questions 36 and 38.
36. When is a manufacturer's license
required?
A manufacturer’s license is needed only by persons engaged in the business of manufacturing explosive materials for sale, distribution, or for business use. For example, persons engaged in the business of providing a blasting service using explosives of their own manufacture would be required to have a manufacturer’s license. Persons who manufacture explosives for their personal, nonbusiness use would not need a manufacturer’s license. [27 CFR 55.11: definition of “manufacturer”, 55.41]
38. I want to buy a small quantity of dynamite from my local dealer to use on my property. Do I need a Federal user’s permit?
No, provided the dynamite is purchased in your State of residence and not transported across State lines. A user’s permit is required when a nonlicensee acquires or transports explosive materials in interstate or foreign commerce (see Question 30).
Except for those items and activities given exempt status under 18 U.S.C. 845 (also see 27 CFR 55.141), all persons who store explosive materials must have storage facilities that meet the requirements of 27 CFR Part 55, Subpart K, “Storage”. [18 U.S.C. 842(j); 27 CFR 55.29, 55.201(a)]
Plain as day, the government actually gives us a clear answer for once: the private manufacture and use of explosives for recreation is completely legal. However, something to keep an eye out for is the stipulation that the ATF tossed in elsewhere; everyone, not just licensed persons, who stores explosives must have an approved storage facility. That said, since we tend to consider home explosives dangerous, most of us make ours just prior to their use, so we have nothing to worry about.
State laws do still apply, even though Federal Law falls in our favor for once, and this is where the rest of you Forumites come in. Our task now is to make this a thread where we have all the individual state laws about explosives linked and explained. Alas for all you poor souls in other countries, you have no hope for legal explosives; however, those of us in the United States DO have hope, we just need to go out and find it. With such laws documented in our favor, we could one day come out from the shadows of our laboratories and find the sheeple clapping and cheering us on for our efforts to improve science. If nothing, perhaps we can revive the explosives section of the Forum with some actual tests.
*Note: I did search the Forum to see if this had been done before, but the most recent(http://www.roguesci.org/theforum/water-cooler/3631-legality.html? & http://www.roguesci.org/theforum/links-literature/4089-federal-laws-explosives-2002-a.html?) were from 2004. I therefore figured that such a post would be of use to the forumites, especially considering that the laws have recently been updated.