SpudFiles

I've read a little here and there about morons hurting or killing themselves by putting gun powder in spud guns or looking down the barrel etc etc. Then of course the parents and communities shout out for a ban on all such devices because they are now certain that they are dangerous no matter what.
My concern is with high powered pneumatics and hybrids entering the market, some of which I will be doing myself as a little hobby side business and you know Sureshot has things up their sleeve, they will eventually get people's attention with the unusually high power. Combine that with shooting supersonic golf balls, lead pellets etc etc, is this likely to get the hobby banned?
If some psycho activist mother who lost her son because she was on crack when she had him and he thought it was a good idea to shove gunpowder in a PVC cannon then died as a result sees these, she's going to pick up the red phone and call her congressman.

Psycho activist mother: "Hello? Congress? Hi, yes, this is blahblah. I am calling to report that children are playing with very deadly, super lethal home made contraptions that are impossible to build safely and totally impossible to use without dying! After all, if they got my little Johnny then everyone is at risk! Yeah he used C4 in the PVC chamber, but he was a good kid dammit. He was just a good kid. Smart kid to. People are DYING sir! They are dying right now! Don't let it happen to another soul Oh GAWD!! Bu-hu-hu-hoo..boohoohoo!"

Bewildered congressman looking for an easy pat on the back for being a hobby banning hero: "Uh, yes ma'am, we will submit a bill every day of the week for the next half of eternity until all of American's rights are removed in the name of you're loving Johnny"

Could it happen? I could just see a special on the news about how an age old hobby has turned deadly and evolved into something that parallels firearms but has little to no restrictions.

Consider high-powered air rifles like the Career Dragon Slayer that put out almost 200 ft/lbs, practically double the power of your average 22LR plinker. These are sold (to my knowledge) in the US with very limited regulation, if any. The price bracket alone puts them out of reach of your average careless kid, anyone willing to put serious money into such a device is unlikely to use it irresponsibly.

A ban on spudguns would be difficult enough to enforce to make it completely impractical, what are you going to do after all, require a license for the purchase of PVC pipe?

I would find it conceivable that people might be subjected to legislation about using spudguns in public spaces, or be charged for using spudguns to commit a felony as if they were using a firearm, but little beyond that would be feasible. Remember that there are many folks outside the US (like our Australian or British members for example) who build and use high-powered spudguns even though it is specifically illegal in their respective countries.

Sweet. I hate to say it but I am a little paranoid about losing my rights and freedoms. I never used to think about it EVER, but since 9/11 I wouldn't put anything past them.

I've thought about this quite a bit since Solar posted about the air force testing his eclipse. If the military starts using pneumatic guns more than they do now (yeas I know the NS do use them), they will get more recognition for their true power and lethality (is that a word?). Anyway, I could see the government banning them, though I assure you, I will keep building guns, no matter what. PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS!!!!!!

I agree with Maverik i dont really care what the banning people do in the future i can see them being baned in public places (im not sure if there banned or not correct me if im wrong) Anyway if they do ban them i would still make cannons like i have been because its highly unlickley that the police are going to storm through your gate and arrest you. (Even if they did we have our cannons to protect us )

Interesting stuff.

I'm really getting into PCP design. It's less practical to exhaust the entire chamber of air each shot. The Dragon Slayer for example only has a handful of shots available per fill before 50m starts looking dodgy but you don't have to refill the tank from 0-3000, only the last thousand or less.


OnT: It's only illegal if someone knows about it.

You could have a cache of RPG-7 ammo sans warhead in the basement which you go plinking with on weekends in a small wooded area you own well outside town. The trees aren't going to rat you out.

Build away and keep your head down ^^

Hotwired wrote:It's only illegal if someone knows about it.

I would be very worried if the police didn't arrest someone in a manner where they were clearly putting themselves and others in harm's way with spudguns or damaging the property of others, however it would be unfair to be prosecuted for doing something within the confines of your own property, I think anyone would see the logic in that.

they will eventually get people's attention with the unusually high power. Combine that with shooting supersonic golf balls, lead pellets etc etc, is this likely to get the hobby banned?

No, anyone with the knowledge to build guns that powerful is (most likely) responsible enough to handle it.
Its the reason why we are not spoonfeeding (besides that its annoying to keep spoonfeeding) By letting every noob do his own research, you filter out certain types of people.
The retard you mention of putting gunpowder in a PVC cannon would be someone who got spoonfed to build a spudgun, in combination of access to gunpowder and a retarded mind. Retarded people do not like to do their research and will eventually stop practicing this hobby.

Well that's logic.

Then there's the law which means the police can be called out to knock on your door if a cranky neighbour hears and/or sees you firing a "gun" / "causing explosions" or whatever their imagination or limitation of technical knowledge suggests to them.

If you're not noticed then the logic of it doesn't apply.

Not everyone is going to have the view you're a safety concious individual that's taken steps to prevent accidents while blowing things apart violently. For all they might assume, you might be firing "bullets" which could cause disruption to them and theirs.

I have to say, I can just see the special on FOX news:

Reporter: "Tonight: Hobby turns lethal, new methods making unregulated "spud guns" more deadly than ever before!"

*Cut to old-ish guy*

Guy: "Back in the day we just had some beer cans, gasoline and a match. Now they're usin' propane and all kinds of weird stuff. That don't sound safe."

*Cut to guy who probably has a Bachelor of Arts but is wearing a lab coat*

Other guy: Almost-scientific explanation about hybrids, complete with exagerrated figures.

*cut to old-ish lady*

Lady: "I just don't feel safe anymore!"

*cut to a bunch of "facts" to invent problems where none exist*

...I kinda see where the OP is coming from

Retarded people do not like to do their research and will eventually stop practicing this hobby.

I haven't...

Well...the good thing about this hobby is...they can take away all airguns, crossbows, knives, firearms..even internet...


But we only need a bit of plumbing and an old fridge..



and a woman without gag reflex...

TurboSuper wrote:
*Cut to old-ish guy*

Guy: "Back in the day we just had some beer cans, gasoline and a match.

I resent those remarks!

Don't generalize so much.

There are some of us who "are old-ish guys", who actively design and build cannons.

I can how ever agree with you about the media and their constant over sensational-izing of any story/report to get headline attention!

dewey-1 wrote:Don't generalize so much.

If it's any consolation, you're one of the most cutting edge and open minded "old-ish guys" I've ever had the pleasure of conversing with

I can how ever agree with you about the media and their constant over sensational-izing of any story/report to get headline attention!

There is an unfortunate "knee jerk reaction" culture to media sensationalism, however the beauty of traditional spudding is the use of easily obtainable materials that by definition would make it impossible to enforce legislation against.

Yeah, screw em. The day cannons get banned is the day I start drawing up the most stupidly ridiculous monstrosity the spudding world has ever seen and I will make it my dying mission to propagate the beast throughout the land to those brave enough to receive it in all its mind blowing glory.

however the beauty of traditional spudding is the use of easily obtainable materials that by definition would make it impossible to enforce legislation against.

Unless they are willing to go back to the year 1600 and throw their crap out on the street instead of having a drainage system.
As long as there are pipes there will be spudding.
And even if there aren't, you can always make your own.