Spud gun legality

Below is a list showing the legality of spud guns in different places around the world.If you have information from the government authority in your country, state or town please add it.

United States

Spud guns are not federally regulated, although the ATF offers a classification. [cite web| title = ATF General Questions | url = http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/faq2.htm#b17 | accessdate = 2007-07-25] Legislation varies widely by state, county, and township. One would have to check with local authorities to determine local spud gun legality.
* Spud guns are illegal to possess by persons under the age of 16 in New York.
* In Glendale, Arizona and Phoenix, Arizona combustion spud guns are not considered firearms.
* In Madison, Wisconsin and in Illinois spud guns are not considered firearms.
* Combustion spud guns are considered firearms in the state of Texas.
* Spud guns are considered firearms in Winter Springs, FL.
* Spud guns are not considered firearms in the state of Maryland.
* Combustion spud guns are not to be manufactured or possessed by those under the age of 16 in the state of California

Australia

All combustion spud guns are considered firearms.
*In the state of Victoria (Australia), pneumatic spud guns require a Category A firearms license, while combustion spud guns require a Category E firearms license.

New Zealand

Pneumatic spud guns are classed as air guns in New Zealand, which means the owner must be either over 18, or over 16 with a A-Category Arms License. Combustion cannons are deemed a firearm, requiring the owner to hold an A-Category License. These laws are rarely, if ever applied and spud gun ownership and building has proved a popular hobby with many New Zealanders.

Germany

All combustion spud guns are considered firearms.

United Kingdom

Pneumatic spud guns with projectile energy greater than 4 joules (3 ft·lbf) are classified as section 1 firearms and do not require a license. In recent years, with the rise of spud gun use, there has often been much debate as to whether or not spud guns should actually be classed as Light Air Weapons. If spud guns were to be reclassified, then their maximum lawful projectile energy would be 12 ft/lbf, not 3.

Canada

A spud gun is not considered a firearm unless it fires a projectile faster than 152.4 meters per second and at a muzzle energy exceeding 5.7 Joules based on the definition of a firearm in the Canadian Criminal Code. [cite web| title = Criminal Code | url = http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/showdoc/cs/C-46/bo-ga:l_III//en#anchorbo-ga:l_III | accessdate = 2008-07-24] A spud gun may be interpreted as an imitation firearm, and therefore it would be illegal to have it in possession in a public place. The spud gun would most likely be considered a dangerous weapon, and therefore if an offence is committed with it, a possession of a dangerous weapon charge could be issued.

Poland

All combustion spud guns are considered firearms.

Other notes

*Flaming, explosive, black powder, or living projectiles can often make a legal spud gun illegal in many jurisdictions.
*Many heavily-populated areas have ordinances on projectiles and loud noise.
*While combustion cannons may be legal in a given area, stun guns, sometimes used for ignition, are illegal in some states. [cite web| title = Stun Gun Laws | url = http://www.beststungun.com/stun-gun-laws.html | accessdate = 2007-07-25]

References

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