*** Propellant powders are found about 15 times more often in improvised explosives devices (IEDs) than commercial explosives whose sale requires a licence
That line disturbs me also.
As far as the logic for restrictions go there is a bona fide hazard for firefighters responding to fires. Unlike loaded ammunition, powder especially black powder poses a real hazard. 1 lb containers of smokeless powder pose little hazard but an 8 lb container of smokeless powder will raise the roof on a 12X12 building.
My first reaction is ... bulll$hit. I have not heard of any incidents regarding reloading explosions or explosions regarding smokeless powder. I'll check the crime databases to see if anything is out there...
Follow up - they (whoever the group is that is proposing the draft changes) may be working off of US data. Here's a quote from an abstract from this journal article:"
The United States twenty-year experience with bombing incidents: implications for terrorism preparedness and medical response., Kapur, G Bobby; Hutson, H Range; Davis, Mark A; Rice, Phillip L;The Journal of trauma, 2005 Dec, 59(6):1436-44"
BACKGROUND: Terrorist bombings remain a significant threat in the United States. However, minimal longitudinal data exists regarding the medical and public health impact because of bombings. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the number of incidents, injuries, and deaths because of explosive, incendiary, premature, and attempted bombings from January 1983 to December 2002. Morbidity and mortality by motives, target locations, and materials used were evaluated. RESULTS: In the United States, 36,110 bombing incidents, 5,931 injuries, and 699 deaths were reported. There were 21,237 (58.8%) explosive bombings, 6,185 (17.1%) incendiary bombings, 1,107 (3.1%) premature bombings, and 7,581 (21.0%) attempted bombings. For explosive bombings with known motives, 72.9% of injuries and 73.8% of deaths were because of homicide. For incendiary bombings with known motives, 68.2% of injuries were because of extortion and revenge, and 53.5% of deaths were due to homicide.
Private residences accounted for 29.0% of incidents, (
I wonder what was involved in these incidents) 31.5% of injuries, and 55.5% of deaths. Government installations accounted for 4.4% of incidents but were the site of 12.7% of injuries and 25.5% of deaths. In bombings with known materials, nitrate-based fertilizers accounted for 36.2% of injuries and 30.4% of deaths, and smokeless powder and black powder accounted for 33.2% of injuries and 27.1% of deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Illegal bombings and related injuries commonly occur in the United States. (
Um, no kidding...) Because of the easy availability of bombing materials, government agencies and healthcare providers should prepare for potential mass-casualty bombings.
Of course, it goes without saying that the most prominent explosions in the last few years in Canada have been on the various pipelines out west, and various propane collections in Toronto (one townhouse complex and of course, the biggie that shut down the 401 last year). The cops shut down the gang of 18, so ammonium nitrate is monitored. It's tough as heck to get any more than a few kilos of powder as of late. If we go by the news, the various law enforcement/EMS teams should be worried about propane/natural gas explosions and attempts to gain massive amounts of ammonium nitrate. Interestingly enough, Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) is used to manufacture blackpowder/smokeless powder explosives (ran across that in one of the journals as well - no electronic text, so here's the citation: Title: Identification of ascorbic acid and its degradation products in black powder substitutes
Source: Journal of forensic sciences [0022-1198] Goodpaster yr:2004 vol:49 iss:3 pg:523 -528). Seriously - using vitamin C to make a black powder substitute. That's a new one!
