Prescribed antiques - How low a profile to keep?

Grizzlypeg

Grizzlypeg

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Seeing as prescribed antiques exist as a consequence of regulations to the firearms act, and regulations can be changed as the public demands and government sees fit, would it not be wise to keep as low a profile as possible with shooting prescribed cartridge handguns.

Your thoughts. Is this an issue? How does law enforcement and anti gunners view such privileges? I am guessing to a degree its below the radar and therefor not at this time an issue. We all know how easily the public can get excited should it become a safety concern. I'd hate to see a good thing come to an end with the stroke of a pen.
 
Grizzlypeg said:
Seeing as prescribed antiques exist as a consequence of regulations to the firearms act, and regulations can be changed as the public demands and government sees fit, would it not be wise to keep as low a profile as possible with shooting prescribed cartridge handguns.

Your thoughts. Is this an issue? How does law enforcement and anti gunners view such privileges? I am guessing to a degree its below the radar and therefor not at this time an issue. We all know how easily the public can get excited should it become a safety concern. I'd hate to see a good thing come to an end with the stroke of a pen.
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I think of anyone in any hobby is paranoid that if they participate in actions that are not deemed "illegal" in the fear that someone will come along and decide to make those actions "illegal" should re-think the hobby they are in and consider exchanging for another one.

The very essence of shooting in any fashion (competition, target shooting, "just for fun," skill building, hunting, etc.) is under CONSTANT ATTACK from society whose only goal is to rid us of our hobby and guns and to limit guns to the police, government, and the military. We are constantly writing letters, suing the government, donating money to people to fight legal cases, etc. to simply KEEP our rights to own our guns. It's a perpetual David vs. Goliath fight, daily. Then after all this fighting when it's time to exercise those rights defined by the law, we're going to cower in fear in the shadows because we're afraid our "legal" actions will all of the sudden we-write the laws and end it all? If this is the case, I am worried the Lieberal Propaganda Machine is working on instilling fear in us that even our "legal" actions under the guise of the law may be "mis-interpreted" and we're only a pen-stroke away from becoming outlaws. Unbelievably I have talked to some gun owners that even though they have restricted status on their PAL they are scared to buy a pistol because they "might" accidentally do something bad or wrong and get arrested/charged/persecuted for owning a pistol or AR, and therefore refrain from buying either/or "just to be safe." When I hear this, I shed a tear.

Prescribed antiques can be taken anywhere a non-restricted long gun can be taken. I don't drive around the city with my SKS on the passengers seat even though I can, and I wouldn't do the same thing with my antique firearms. I don't walk around the neighborhood with my Nagant strapped to my back unloaded even though I can, and I wouldn't walk around the neighborhood with my Colt strapped to my hip. If I want to go to Crown Land and shoot my antique firearms, I can. If I want to go to the back 40 on my private property and shoot it, I can. If I want to carry it in my truck to the range WITHOUT AN ATT, I can. If I want to store it without a trigger lock, I CAN. If I was 15 years old (I am not BTW) and buy one, guess what, I can. I can do all of those things because the law says I can. I should not be afraid of what the law will "allow" me to do.

Nothing will stop ignorant cops, CO's, RCMP, etc. in ANY situation. I have heard more than one horror story of guys hunting with their AR180B's being threatened with confiscation by one of the above saying that their rifle is restricted that they forged a registration card (after presenting it) and they are going to confiscate their rifle and charge them under the Criminal Code. What about the last time someone took their non-restricted Beretta Storm out target shooting in the bush and some CO comes up and does the same thing? Should we stop taking our AR180B's and Beretta Storm's out hunting and shooting because we're afraid we'll will be next? Should you?

If I was to compare owning a gun to say drag racing, you don't hear racers mulling around the pits tugging at their beards scratching their heads sitting in anxious contemplation muttering to themselves "should I race because it's dangerous and I could have a crash and someone could die and there's some politician, police person, federal agent, etc. sitting in the stands waiting to run to the government and 'change the laws' banning racing."

We should not be flaunting our hobby and giving society the finger saying "eff you I can do this and that!" We should be educating society "constantly" on what is legal and what is not. Sometimes through words, sometimes through actions, actions that are "legal" under the guise of the law. Sometimes the path through ignorance to enlightenment is not smooth.
 
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Hey friend, good to hear from you. I would agree with you wholeheartedly if you were talking about exercising Charter rights, because they are deeply entrenched in law and would be hard to repeal.

With all due respect, I seriously doubt the exemption for Prescribed Antiques -intended to replace the previously ambiguous exemption for cartridge firing firearms using ammunition "not commonly available- was intended to facilitate the actual operation of these antiques as shooting firearms, free of the restrictions placed on typical firearms. It was most likely a courtesy to collectors of antiques, intended to recognize that cartridge firing firearms that have no (commonly) available ammunition, are for all intents and purposes antiques not capable of discharge and therefor not firearms. Similar to a dewat. If it were not so, then why would any reference be made to particular cartridges and not just pre-1898? Even pre 98 cap and ball revolvers are not Prescribed exempt, likely homage to the fact that someone who has one can easily load and discharge it.

I see this little niche of liberty pertaining to antique handguns as precarious, and the less people who know about it, likely the better for it to survive in its current state. While the law enforcement officer you meet today may need "educating" about the current state of the law pertaining to prescribed antique handguns, I'm not confident that if enough of them are "educated" that word won't get out and the regulations be highlighted as needing change. Can you imagine how easy it would be to add more cartridges to the "other than a handgun designed or adapted to..." list?
 
there is a big difference between exercising your "rights" and pushing your luck

firearms rights(read privilege) are much like muscles,if you don't exercise them they grow week

if every legal shooter hid in the closet out of fear of losing their privileges,the public eye would grow accustomed to NOT seeing that privilege exercised and would be doubly shocked when it did.

I for one wear an antique sidearm on my place in the summer,mostly when I'm workin near the west end.It's a travel route for wolves and bears an such,and there's bin cats back there too.I'll likely never need it,but it's handier than a long arm in most situations.
The odd time a strange vehicle pulls into the lane I usually take it off.No sense causing any unneeded panic.
Use discretion when dealing with the public,but don't hide what you do.That's for folks with something to hide ;)
 
I would agree. Go and shoot them, but do so discretely. They are yours to own and enjoy. They arent dewatts, so go use em. This being said, dont push your luck. By that I mean dont take them hunting or concealed carry them. Even though they are not technically firearms, I guarantee that the first legitimate gun owner caught carrying an antique revolver on them would cause an pathetic outcry to amend the antique status amendment for firearms.
 
Well in Jolly old England they can even have Antique Revolvers without a licence or Registration.
So its not just us with this antique thing!
They cant shoot there Antiques tho not unless they want to have a pile of paper work.
This so called Loop hole was made to keep the Rich Earls and high society of England happy so they could keep there rare Antique revolver coillections.
Thats where it all started.
Our goverments copyied England but went further with the caliber lists and didnt worry about the being able to shoot them.
The Transport and use Regs clearly list Antiques as exempt from most non restricted rules and regs and i cant see any reason to change.

Our Laws are simlar but we have full access to ammo and reloading supplys with no restrictions really.

I think any goverment would look foolish trying to get rid of them Evil antiques that are causeing such havoc in society....

And i agree with ki11ercanes ideas on this.
Use common sence and we will have theses freedoms longer than if we act like knuckle dragers running about doing foolish things!
 
Not quite correct! If you wish to shoot a antique pistol in England then it must be on your Firearms Certificate and you are subjected to a lot of very strict requlations. All your 455 Webleys and similar are either very tightly controlled or prohibited! That is where the use of language is very different, prohibited means just that, you can't have it!
 
I think antique owners are a proud bunch that likes to engage in a safe fun activity and the laws addresses this pretty well, other than the cartridge list.

That said, the Liberal won't see it that way and will not rest until all perceived dangers have been safely bubblewrapped in legislation. Low profile or no profile.
 
ganet said:
Not quite correct! If you wish to shoot a antique pistol in England then it must be on your Firearms Certificate and you are subjected to a lot of very strict requlations. All your 455 Webleys and similar are either very tightly controlled or prohibited! That is where the use of language is very different, prohibited means just that, you can't have it!
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You did not read my entire post i noted that you needed lots of paper work = licences ect to be able to shoot your Antique revolvers in England.
 
I have a well written response for Grizzly brewing, but I am heading out to The Keg for a much deserved dinner with the wife and my brother. I'll polish it off and submit it tomorrow or Sunday.

Now go shoot your antique pistols already!
 
I am of the opinion that this exception that allow us to shoot handguns without the normal restictions is an oversight. Like a tax loophole, if enough people flaunt it, it quickly gets closed. Because it is unintentional. No one intended these antiques to be loaded for and shot. That's why they tie it into the ammunition. No available ammunition in their mind equals a non-firearm.

That sticky referred to above contains some wise words on the subject.

Quoting from it:

...keep a low profile, dont draw un-wanted attention. The longer we go without drawing the attention of the anti-gun folks and the politicians the longer we can enjoy our antiques without having to jump through hoops.
 
Grizzlypeg said:
I am of the opinion that this exception that allow us to shoot handguns without the normal restictions is an oversight. Like a tax loophole, if enough people flaunt it, it quickly gets closed. Because it is unintentional. No one intended these antiques to be loaded for and shot. That's why they tie it into the ammunition. No available ammunition in their mind equals a non-firearm.

That sticky referred to above contains some wise words on the subject.

Quoting from it:

...keep a low profile, dont draw un-wanted attention. The longer we go without drawing the attention of the anti-gun folks and the politicians the longer we can enjoy our antiques without having to jump through hoops.
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I think to buy an antique gun it should be like buying a non restricted gun. So you still need a pay to buy it.
 
Grizzlypeg said:
I am of the opinion that this exception that allow us to shoot handguns without the normal restictions is an oversight. Like a tax loophole, if enough people flaunt it, it quickly gets closed. Because it is unintentional. No one intended these antiques to be loaded for and shot. That's why they tie it into the ammunition. No available ammunition in their mind equals a non-firearm.

That sticky referred to above contains some wise words on the subject.

Quoting from it:

...keep a low profile, dont draw un-wanted attention. The longer we go without drawing the attention of the anti-gun folks and the politicians the longer we can enjoy our antiques without having to jump through hoops.
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Well i dont think anyone with half a brain will Flaunt it.

The powers that be would not be to Quick to say it was unintentional as thats a sign of someone way up the power chain being clueless and ignorant.
I know for a fact they know Antique revolvers are being shot as i talked to one of the Top tecs at cFC before he retired.

As long as common sence is used there should be no problems.
Even if someone goes ape s**t with a Antique revolver remember what it says all thru the antique paper work
IF used in a crime it looses its Antique status. so that person will be treated just as a person with a restricted firearm. thats the goverments ace in the hole.
so far i dont think many crimes in the last 20 years have been useing Antique firearms. even if they did how would anyone know being as soon as a crime is commited useing the gun it becomes modern. ;)
 
Grizzlypeg said:
I am of the opinion that this exception that allow us to shoot handguns without the normal restictions is an oversight. Like a tax loophole, if enough people flaunt it, it quickly gets closed. Because it is unintentional. No one intended these antiques to be loaded for and shot. That's why they tie it into the ammunition. No available ammunition in their mind equals a non-firearm.

That sticky referred to above contains some wise words on the subject.

Quoting from it:

...keep a low profile, dont draw un-wanted attention. The longer we go without drawing the attention of the anti-gun folks and the politicians the longer we can enjoy our antiques without having to jump through hoops.
Click to expand...

My take on the calibre list, the people that wrote the laws must have believed that the most common antique guns were Colt SAA's. Put the SAA calibres on the no-go list, and the only things left would be percussion revolvers. I doubt that they realized just how many antique rifles and handguns were in existence. I enjoy using my antique guns, but I am very careful about the people with whom I discuss them. All it would take is the media (AKA left wing cheerleaders) to glom onto the "deadly loophole" that allows innocent children to buy handguns, that even though ancient, fire deadly "manstopper" bullets, etc. etc. and the laws could change overnight. Especially if the Lieberals happen to be in power at the time. Enjoy your antiques, just don't flaunt them in the wrong company.
 
^^^ +1
I think we are one "unfortunate incident/media hyped trajedy" away from a change in the legeslation.
Wendy & Co. will be all over this "loophole" at the first opportunity.
 
mlehtovaara said:
If you all want to be so discrete how bout you STFU!! This is a public forum!! If Wendy ever found this site we would never hear the end of it. Just saying!
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LOL you make a good point but im sure the Antis know of this site and the Antique firearms laws.
they just want to get the Evil modern guns frist then were next.
Thats why you cant sit on your hands about modern firearms either.
Like someone said its a on going fight.
I think CGN has made the firearm community 100 times stronger with the letter writeing and guys who dont miss a thing the antis do like Foxer Ect.
This site is the worst thing that ever happened to the antis and its important to be part of the entire fight not just worry about antiques and what "could" happen.
I dont want to not be able to shoot my 870 or m 14 either eh!!!
 
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