38 replies to this topic

[Stuart]

After deciding to give the maroons a rest for a while so that the police didn't come knocking on my door, I was wondering what would happen to me if I did get caught. Say they found me holding a tube with 300g of Black Powder in it, what would happen to me?

BTW I am 16


Stuart

Edited by Stuart, 16 September 2003 - 06:23 AM.

[blasterbert]

you would be in deep s**t.

[Stuart]

I kinda had a hunch that I would be , could anybody give a few more details.

Edited by Stuart, 16 September 2003 - 03:28 PM.

[phildunford]

Actually, very interesting question...

I assume that they could put you away for 20 years under some explosives legislation - however it seems unliklely.

Does anyone know of any real cases where people have been prosecuted for making fireworks rather than explosive/terrorist offenses??

[RegimentalPyro]

You can be prosecuted under the terrorism act for possesing "Beumb" making equipment. The definition of "equipment" is vague - intentionally I believe.

I seem to remember an article in a Midlands paper which stated that a man who was accused of the above law had "a large quantity of fertiliser and other paraphanalia".

I think that THIS is the link

Hmmmm. Anybody put off by this?


PS: The reason for the atrocious french accent on the word after "posessing" is that the submission procedure replaces the "b" word with "charge". I can see why this is done, but fer chrissakes - Am I alone in thinking that forbidding a word is not a cool thing to do. What else is on the stop-list?

Edited by RegimentalPyro, 18 September 2003 - 12:20 PM.

[Matt]

Well if we were to throw the B word around on here then people on search engines could go "how to make *insert B word her*" then theres a chance we'll get more of what the lovely people at rec.pyrotechnics call "trolls" I realise you all know this but i see it as a good thing.

As for the getting in trouble stuff goes, The police around here really couldnt care less if someone sets off fireworks around here. They do however step in if neighbours complain. Police are only human, some of them even drive past and go "nice fireworks guys" but it is their job to put an end to certain actions if people complain. And just as a note, fireworks are very illegal. Sparklers can be bought but the black market has a lot to offer and aslong as people think you have bought what you set off you will actually be a bit safer. Manufacturing fireworks and whatnot is a whole 'nother subject, come to think of it manufacuring would be put in the ranks of terrorism. Needless to say is much worse.

-Matt

[Stuart]

Because I am 16, can I be procecuted and thrown in the clanger

[RegimentalPyro]

Dunno - I'd hope not but IANAL. When it comes to terrorism all the usual rights we enjoy are thrown out the window. For example I do know that anybody detained under the prevention of terrorism act in the UK is not subject to the usual PACE [Police and criminal evidence] and/or Custody rules.

According to Amnesty Int. there *are* children being detained in Guantameno bay.

[adamw]

If you do get 'caught' - not a word that should be used in association with a hobby (nobody is afraid of getting caught playing football in the street), then God help you. A large percentage of the government types are very closed-minded and will have you down as a terrorist. Take the newspaper article on the link on this topic - the 'improvised explosive device' was probably a fountain...

[chrissw]

knowing how things get done in this spin-doctor bu****it-driven country, what would happen if you got caught with a tube containing.....


....300gm of crack cocaine, heroin, ecstacy, etc....

your local police would hardly be able to keep themselves awake as they go through the motions of arresting you but, because of your age, immediately passing you onto your local Social Services dept who would instantly open a case-file, take you into care, prosecute your parents, have endless meetings full of woollie-head loonie-lefties umming and aarrring till the cows come home to decide your fate as gently as possible,etc,etc,etc....

....300gm of black powder....

you would be lucky to get away with the arrest NOT being carried out under the watchful guns of your local Tactical Firearms Unit, and sod your age! your local Social Services wouldn't want to know, as by making 300gm of black powder yourself you have automatically demonstrated your ability to retain more IQ points up your bum than you'll ever find hiding behind the curtains in any Social Services office I've ever encountered, because if there's anything that lot can't cope with is someone who'se intellect shows them up for the hopeless load of dunces they usually are!

'ard luck mate!

[Gor]

Sounds like you've had a bit of a hard time.

[Matt]

Say its a storage tube and they cant do a whole lot. Local laws generally allow people to own a few ounces of BP, In aus I think we can own around a kilo of the stuff but that makes no sence because you cant really use it without being illegal.

-Matt

[Stuart]

....300gm of black powder....

you would be lucky to get away with the arrest NOT being carried out under the watchful guns of your local Tactical Firearms Unit, and sod your age! your local Social Services wouldn't want to know, as by making 300gm of black powder yourself you have automatically demonstrated your ability to retain more IQ points up your bum than you'll ever find hiding behind the curtains in any Social Services office I've ever encountered, because if there's anything that lot can't cope with is someone who'se intellect shows them up for the hopeless load of dunces they usually are!

Now thats the real way to get arrested-just I dont think the sentance would be as favorable as a simple-
"My names DI Jones and this is DI Smith, your under arrest."
Does this mean that I am considered to have a high IQ as well?

Stuart

[chrissw]

Sounds like you've had a bit of a hard time.

Not personally but I know one or two that have....and of course there's the terrible example recently of the 7-year old girl murdered with her drug-dealer father because some pillocks at Birmingham Social Services couldn't see any danger in letting her go stay with a bloke who had already been shot at 6 times by other criminals, but still never mind, they get to "launch an enquiry" which no doubt will keep the "experts" in megabucks for a few months-worth of meetings at least!

[tajmiester]

I know this is an old thread but...

So whats the moral of this story? Is it worth making the odd fountain to light on the 5th of Nov, or should I light my 300g of BP, burn my cardboard tubing and give it all up. What do you reckon? I mean I have never harmed anyone or anything; never caused a 'public disterbence' or made anything more powerful than BP. Besides who would charge you? You talk about getting 'caught' but presumably the police would only take notice is someone comlained or if you destroyed something! Its not big brother! (God I hate that show!)

On another note does anyone know what storing this amount of BP would do to any insurance claims if your house burnt down? Presumably even if it didnt cause the fire you would forfit your insurance? Although you are alowed to store this amount of consumer (CAT 3) fireworks and no-one bats an eye!

And... Just wondering about lisencing etc... It is probably obvious that I am not exactly a Pyro proffessional and I was just wondering what sort of lisences are around. Is it possible to get a lisence to let you make your own (small) fireworks or do we in the UK think that this is too dangerous, so we let the Chinese do it! Also where and how do you get lisences to let you buy, fuse and ignite CAT 4 fireworks?

Taj

Edited by tajmiester, 10 November 2003 - 10:58 PM.