Source: https://johnpierceesq.com/the-old-wives-tale-about-black-powder-firearms-and-felons/
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 11:11:48+00:00

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The old wives’ tale about black powder firearms and felons | The Law Office of John Pierce, Esq.
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UPDATE: As of July 1, 2017 this article no longer accurately reflects current Virginia law.
See my updated article for more details.
It seems like I hear the question at least once a week.
And often when I answer the question for a client, I will get a call back from their friend/brother/cousin who will tell me that I am wrong because they have been told differently by their local game warden/deputy/gun store owner.
It is a misconception that simply will not die.
The fact that both federal and state law exempts certain black powder firearms from specific regulations is at the heart of the confusion.
But even if the black powder firearm in question does not meet the definition of ‘firearm’ for purposes of applying federal prohibitions, we still have state law to consider.
In Virginia, the definition of ‘firearm’ is contained in a number of statues, including those governing when a background check needs to be performed. But interestingly enough, it does not provide a definition in § 18.2-308.2 which governs possession by those convicted of a felony. This leaves us looking to case law to determine the answer.
People will often erroneously cite to the 1997 case of Miller v. Commonwealth 492 S.E.2d 482 as proof that black powder firearms are not denied to convicted felons but this is an incorrect reading of the holding. In Miller, the defendant did initially raise the issue of what constitutes a ‘firearm’ for purposes of § 18.2-308.2 but later dropped that issue, and the court ultimately overturned his conviction based upon a due process argument.
Code § 18.2-308.2 prohibits a felon from possessing a device that has the actual capacity to do serious harm because of its ability to expel a projectile by the power of an explosion, and it is not concerned with the use or display of a device that may [merely] have the appearance of a firearm.
This holding was followed in 1998 in Gregory v. Commonwealth (504 S.E.2d 886) and again in 2000 in Williams v. Commonwealth (537 S.E.2d 21).
This entry was posted in Criminal Law, Federal Law, Gun Rights Restoration, Purchasing Firearms, Virginia Law. Bookmark the permalink.

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