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Fairfield, California -- A man was arrested after he allegedly "set off" a small cannon in his yard in town. He reportedly did not fire a projectile. Although the SWAT team turned out, the suspect was arrested without incident.

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-new ... ck_check=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's not clear to me what law he violated, but it is California.

- Jim

A very long time ago my son and I used to sit on our front porch every Independence Day and fire a Carbide cannon http://www.bigbangcannons.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; . I used to run it like a gun crew, all the proper commands and such, and we had lots of fun making some seroious noise.

We got visits from the cops every year, but were never even told to stop, and had a couple stand around to watch through a few bangs, and one even served as crew.

I can't imagine what they might do in today's environment, but am forced to wonder if that's what the guy in CA was doing.

A carbide cannon is just a noisemaker, and tennis ball cannons are generally not illegal.

I'm inclined to think that California, which regulates starter pistols and non-firing stage props, has enough statutes to allow anyone who even thinks about weapons to be arrested.

- Jim

seamusTX wrote:It's not clear to me what law he violated, but it is California. - Jim

He was arrested for suspicion of possession of a destructive device.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... 1EBF9C.DTL" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Since he didn't fire any projectile, I have a feeling that the charges will eventually be dropped. Also the law requires that he knew that he possessed a destructive device. That might be hard to prove.

Police brought an armored vehicle to the home after being told that Curtis probably owned numerous guns.

You couldn't make it up, could you?

Here is a pretty good reference on the law from http://www.shouselaw.com/destructive-device.html#1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Destructive device



There is no precise definition of what constitutes a destructive device. Instead, the California Legislature has listed six classes of weapons that all qualify as destructive devices. These include:

1. Any projectile containing any explosive or incendiary material or any other chemical substance, including, but not limited to, that which is commonly known as tracer or incendiary ammunition, except tracer ammunition manufactured for use in shotguns,

2. Any bomb, grenade, explosive missile, or similar device or any launching device used therefor,

3. Any weapon of a caliber greater than 0.60 caliber which fires fixed ammunition, or any ammunition therefor,

4. Any rocket, rocket-propelled projectile, or similar device of a diameter greater than 0.60 inch, or any launching device therefor, and any rocket, rocket-propelled projectile, or similar device containing any explosive or incendiary material or any other chemical substance, other than the propellant for that device, except those devices as are designed primarily for emergency or distress signaling purposes,

5. Any breakable container which contains a flammable liquid with a flashpoint of 150 degrees Fahrenheit or less and has a wick or similar device capable of being ignited, other than a device which is commercially manufactured primarily for the purpose of illumination, and

6. Any sealed device containing dry ice (CO2) or other chemically reactive substances assembled for the purpose of causing an explosion by a chemical reaction.

I am assuming they got him on number 3.

Are Black Cat firecrackers considered an explosive device out there?

In fact do they even set off fireworks on the 4th of July, and New Year's Eve?

No offense to anyone on this board, but I've never traveled to California....and don't care to.

joe817 wrote:Are Black Cat firecrackers considered an explosive device out there?

In fact do they even set off fireworks on the 4th of July, and New Year's Eve?

No offense to anyone on this board, but I've never traveled to California....and don't care to.

As far as I know fireworks are illegal in most if not all of California unless you have a permit or are a licensed pyrotechnician and are putting on a show.

Keith B wrote:

joe817 wrote:Are Black Cat firecrackers considered an explosive device out there?

In fact do they even set off fireworks on the 4th of July, and New Year's Eve?

No offense to anyone on this board, but I've never traveled to California....and don't care to.

As far as I know fireworks are illegal in most if not all of California unless you have a permit or are a licensed pyrotechnician and are putting on a show.

wow, I knew it was bad there, but I didn't know it was that bad.

USA1 wrote:

Keith B wrote:As far as I know fireworks are illegal in most if not all of California unless you have a permit or are a licensed pyrotechnician and are putting on a show.

wow, I knew it was bad there, but I didn't know it was that bad.

Neither did I USA1. Gads! That is truly sad.

joe817 wrote:

USA1 wrote:

Keith B wrote:As far as I know fireworks are illegal in most if not all of California unless you have a permit or are a licensed pyrotechnician and are putting on a show.

wow, I knew it was bad there, but I didn't know it was that bad.

Neither did I USA1. Gads! That is truly sad.

Have I mentioned that I love Texas?

Keith B wrote: Destructive device

There is no precise definition of what constitutes a destructive device. Instead, the California Legislature has listed six classes of weapons that all qualify as destructive devices. These include:

...
6. Any sealed device containing dry ice (CO2) or other chemically reactive substances assembled for the purpose of causing an explosion by a chemical reaction.

I am assuming they got him on number 3.

Their definition of weapons is very broad.

#6 really catches my attention. I used to go to church with a guy who loved to drop dry ice and hot water in 2 liter bottles and seal 'em up. This was a major source of entertainment at church picnics, particularly around New Years and the 4th of July.

Come to think of it, he was from California! Has a PhD in Chem from Berkeley.

Here is a reference to what is illegal http://www.fireworks.com/fireworks_laws ... fornia.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I think sparklers (depending on composition of material), and a few of the other items like that are allowed, but have to be pre-approved by the fire marshal. You also have to be at least 16 to buy anything that is approved by the state. Some towns and cities have complete bans on any kind of fireworks (common in most states.)

Keith B wrote:As far as I know fireworks are illegal in most if not all of California unless you have a permit or are a licensed pyrotechnician and are putting on a show.

I think you can use this sentence construction to pretty much define every law and regulation in the People's Republic of Kalifornia:

As far as I know __________ are illegal in most if not all of California unless you have a permit or are a licensed ____________ and are in show business.

It's like Mad LIbs ..... he wait they ARE MAD LIBS over there!

Keith B wrote:Here is a reference to what is illegal http://www.fireworks.com/fireworks_laws ... fornia.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I think sparklers (depending on composition of material), and a few of the other items like that are allowed, but have to be pre-approved by the fire marshal. You also have to be at least 16 to buy anything that is approved by the state

Most urban California counties and cities have further restrictions on the sale and possession of fireworks. For the most part, sparklers are as good as you can [legally] get. Many of the people who use fireworks that are launched or go boom, go to another state to purchase them. I have also heard that in the Chinatown areas in LA and SF sell them under the counter.