I have done that. I can't find anything that says I need a permit to purchase for a BP revolver.
That is why I asked guys on a BP DISCUSSION BOARD who DISCUSS stuff like this to find out if they had heard of such a thing. Maybe it is a new law that I had not heard of.
Sometimes when there is a discussion thread about something I know nothing about I read it because I learn stuff.
Sometimes when there is a discussion about a topic that I am well informed about I provide a factual response which is helpful to the group.
Weird, right?
"The State of Minnesota law requires a permit to purchase or transfer ownership in order to obtain a handgun through a purchase, sale, gift, loan, assignment or other delivery from another person. This permit is issued by the police department of the city in which the recipient or buyer lives."
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"BLACK POWDER AND ANTIQUE GUNS AS FIREARMS
By federal law black powder rifles, pistols, and shotguns are not firearms. However, at the state level Minnesota has included muzzle loaders and black powder rifles in their definition of firearms. The Minnesota statute goes on to say: “Firearm” means a gun that discharges shot or a projectile by means of an explosive, a gas, or compressed air.” Judges in Minnesota have also ruled that, under this definition, rifles, shotguns, handguns (both pistols and revolvers), and muzzle loaders are firearms. Paintballs are not included in this definition."
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So, we know Minnesota considers muzzleloaders to be firearms, and they require all firearms sales from FFL dealers to require background checks. So, you will at least need to have your muzzleloader shipped to an FFL dealer for a background check. And, if you are buying a muzzleloading revolver or pistol, Minnesota considers that a handgun and so you may now very well need a handgun permit to purchase.
Additionally, there has been much debate over conversion cylinders and cap and ball revolvers. Below is the complete ATF definition for antique firearms. Notice the portion I have bolded. Cap and ball revolvers are readily and easily converted to shoot convention rimfire or centerfire ammunition with the simple addition of a conversion cylinder. This means the feds consider a cap and ball revolver modified for or with an installed conversion cylinder to be a modern firearm and subject to all all modern firearms laws. And some states have gone further and consider the cap and ball revolver itself a modern firearm simply because of the ready availability of conversion cylinders, and you don't have to actually be in use of one.
This has lead many retailers to stop selling muzzleloaders and/or cap and ball revolvers directly, by mail or otherwise, to customers without at least a background check. And to the more restrictive states they simply refuse all sales altogether to avoid the costly lawsuit by some DA or politician who wants to get famous for "taking on the evil gun industry."
"National Firearms Act Definitions
Antique Firearm
26 U.S.C. § 5845(G)
For the purposes of the National Firearms Act, the term “Antique Firearms” means any firearm not intended or redesigned for using rim fire or conventional center fire ignition with fixed ammunition and manufactured in or before 1898 (including any matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap or similar type of ignition system or replica thereof, whether actually manufactured before or after the year 1898) and also any firearm using fixed ammunition manufactured in or before 1898, for which ammunition is no longer manufactured in the United States and is not readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade."
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If you are in Minnesota and want the full pdf to your state guns laws it is right
HERE. Now remember, just because you interpret those laws to mean one thing, what really maters is how the Minnesota courts have interpreted them. And it depends on how local law enforcement and prosecutor interpret those same laws as to what they charge you with. And few of us have the financial resources to challenge that in court and prove ourselves right. While Minnesota no longer considers a BB gun to be a "firearm," they certainly do consider all forms of black power guns to be "firearms" and applicable to all modern firearms laws.
Lastly, there has long been a trend for felons and others prohibited from owning guns to try and skirt the law by buying muzzleloaders, particularly cap and ball revolvers with or without conversion cylinders. I see them occasionally invading the BP forums I visit asking for advice, and strongly urge my fellow shooters to NOT oblige them. We're all here because of our love for the history and tradition of BP shooting. The last thing we need are news stories about cap and ball revolvers being used by felons for crime and some overzealous lawmakers to start pushing for further regulation of our sport.
It's already happened
when idiots went after .50 caliber muzzleloaders because they didn't understand the difference between a ML'er and a modern .50 caliber weapons such as the 50BMG (sorry for the unmentionable mention.)
And let's not forget the lawsuit against Cabela's filed by the family of a man who was killed with an 1858 Remington C&B revolver they sold.
What it all adds up to is that we must be vigilant and safeguard our gun rights and not think that just because we shoot black powder or antique guns that the grabbers will leave us alone. It's your obligation to vote according to help safeguard these rights,. And try to be somewhat understanding if an online retailers chooses to not directly mail you a black power gun based on the state you live in. It's their business on the line if they get sued.
*Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, so do your own research for your particular state. And, while this thread and discussion is very much skirting the normal content rules of this site, I feel this is an important discussion to have. But, if Zonie and the mods decide they don't want to host it and/or close this thread, I fully support their right to make that decision. Remember, we are all here using this wonderful platform they have provided at their pleasure and they have the right to enforce the rules as they see fit.
