Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Muzzleloader Hunting => Topic started by: seansfire on September 26, 2011, 08:36:27 PM

Title: Legality Question If I May
Post by: seansfire on September 26, 2011, 08:36:27 PM: This may seem like a dumb question but i was wondering if anyone knows if a convicted felon is allowed to hunt with a muzzleloader or not ? I know it is a firearm and felons cant have firearms but i heard once that a muzzleloader falls into a different class for some reason. Thanks for any clarification on this one and happy hunting.
Title: Re: Legality Question If I May
Post by: quadrafire on September 26, 2011, 08:40:00 PM: :dunno:
Title: Re: Legality Question If I May
Post by: seansfire on September 26, 2011, 08:41:09 PM: I :dunno: either brother. LOL
Title: Re: Legality Question If I May
Post by: briancorneal on September 26, 2011, 08:44:01 PM: Go archery..
Title: Re: Legality Question If I May
Post by: seansfire on September 26, 2011, 08:50:44 PM: guess i should have said that i am hunting archery now. just thought it would be fun to try another method of not filling my tag. LOL
Title: Re: Legality Question If I May
Post by: bobcat on September 26, 2011, 08:53:04 PM: By federal law muzzleloaders are NOT firearms. That's why you can mail order a muzzleloader and have it shipped directly to your house, no gun dealer needed.

But by state law, muzzleloaders ARE considered firearms, so in this state a felon cannot legaly hunt with a muzzleloader.
Title: Re: Legality Question If I May
Post by: ICEMAN on September 26, 2011, 08:55:31 PM: Have the Felon ask his Parole officer if this is legal... :chuckle:

On a more serious note, for a Felon it is illegal to possess, be near, fondle, touch, shoot, or play with in any way a muzzle loader.
Title: Re: Legality Question If I May
Post by: seansfire on September 26, 2011, 09:08:28 PM: thanks for the info guys. just for the record i have been off parole for almost 10 years. made a stupid mistake a long time ago is all.
Title: Re: Legality Question If I May
Post by: ArrowH on September 26, 2011, 09:13:52 PM: Revised code of Washington RCW 9.41.010 sub-section 7
"Firearm" means a weapon or device from which a projectile or projectiles may be fired by an explosive such as gun powder.
So to answer your question "NO"
Title: Re: Legality Question If I May
Post by: bobcat on September 26, 2011, 09:17:03 PM: Sure, no problem. By the way, I think it's a bunch of crap that they can take away your gun rights. Thing is if a felon wanted to do something illegal with a gun, like rob somebody, or kill somebody, they would get a gun and do it. What's stopping them? Just the fact that they had their gun rights revoked? :rolleyes:

Yet if they want to do something legal with a gun such as hunting, they can't do it. I feel if you've been deemed worthy enough to be out of prison, then you should have all the rights you had before. Why punish someone for the rest of their life?

Oh- have you checked with an attorney about having your rights restored? It may be possible, I believe, after so many years of you "being good".
Title: Re: Legality Question If I May
Post by: the509hunter on September 27, 2011, 12:21:46 AM: in the state or washington u can go and apeal to have ur right to bear arms back after 5 years then if they say no u have to wait the full seven to get it back.
Title: Re: Legality Question If I May
Post by: predatorpro on September 27, 2011, 01:22:52 AM: if it was ten years ago go and try to get your gun rights restored
Title: Re: Legality Question If I May
Post by: HntnFsh on September 27, 2011, 05:27:58 AM: But be aware there is a huge difference between doing a restoration of rights in Washington.And doing it on the federal level.
Title: Re: Legality Question If I May
Post by: mrtimturner on September 27, 2011, 09:22:32 AM: I bought a muzzleloader last night. The guy told me that muzzleloaders were not considered firearms. I did not have to do any paperwork or anything.
Title: Re: Legality Question If I May
Post by: bobcat on September 27, 2011, 09:24:52 AM: Quote
I bought a muzzleloader last night. The guy told me that muzzleloaders were not considered firearms. I did not have to do any paperwork or anything.
Like I said in my previous post in this thread, they are not considered firearms at the federal level. But by Washington state law, they are. That's why you were able to buy one without a background check. But a felon still cannot legally be in possession of a muzzleloader in this state.
Title: Re: Legality Question If I May
Post by: jackelope on September 27, 2011, 09:30:31 AM: Quote from: bobcat on September 27, 2011, 09:24:52 AM
Quote
I bought a muzzleloader last night. The guy told me that muzzleloaders were not considered firearms. I did not have to do any paperwork or anything.
Like I said in my previous post in this thread, they are not considered firearms at the federal level. But by Washington state law, they are. That's why you were able to buy one without a background check. But a felon still cannot legally be in possession of a muzzleloader in this state.

@ MrTimTurner...The paperwork, waiting period, etc is all federally controlled....not state controlled. State and Federal definition of firearms are different, as are the regulations controlling them. The regulations controlling whether or not a felon can have firearms are maintained on a state level which is where the difference comes from.
Title: Re: Legality Question If I May
Post by: Knocker of rocks on September 27, 2011, 09:39:27 AM: Quote from: bobcat on September 26, 2011, 09:17:03 PM
Sure, no problem. By the way, I think it's a bunch of crap that they can take away your gun rights.

There are certain job hazards involved when you are a felon.
Title: Re: Legality Question If I May
Post by: mrtimturner on September 28, 2011, 10:11:28 AM: That's government for you. You can purchase one, you just can't posses it!