I've searched past threads on here that ask why binary explosives are legal, but there seem to be significant grey areas regarding this. I want to say before I begin that I'm not complaining that Tannerite is legal; I think it's great that it is. Nor do I have any plans to use Tannerite other than for it's intended use as target practice. I am just curious about the legality of the stuff, and binary explosives in general in various circumstances.
The concensus seems to be, as per their website and federal laws, binary explosives are legal so long as they do not leave the owners property once mixed, are not sold once mixed, and are used for lawful (harmless?) purposes. The ATF ruling that Tannerite posts on its website (http://www.tannerite.com/legality/) gives the specific example of a farmer using binary explosives to blow up a tree stump. So my first question is; since the ATF gave such an example, could they theoretically prosecute someone for using the explosive for recreational purposes. I know that they havn't, but could they?
Here's where they grey area comes in; what if someone packed the Tannerite "in" something, in effect turning that something into a large bomb complete with flying shrapnel. There are youtube videos of people blowing apart cars and washing machines with Tannerite. If that is legal, what if someone packed a deactivated grenade with Tannerite? How is that different, and how could this be legal? Does the binary nature of the compound exempt it from traditional DD regulations? And if it is not exempt from DD regulations when packed into a grenade, why is it exempt when packed into a washing machine or into a mason jar?
What if someone packed a binary explosive onto the head of a m203 round. If Tannerite is not an anti-personal explosive, then one would not have to register the round, would they?
Again, I've never personally owned Tannerite and I'll never own a m203 or probably even dummy grenade, I'm just curious about the legal ambiguities of binary explosives. I'm also not trying to raise undue suspicion of binary explosives by asking uncomfortable questions. Considering that people are using this stuff in more and more creative ways and posting it on youtube (and I fully support their right to do so on their own land), I think if a knowledgable person could clarify some of this it could prevent someone from running afoul of the law.
The concensus seems to be, as per their website and federal laws, binary explosives are legal so long as they do not leave the owners property once mixed, are not sold once mixed, and are used for lawful (harmless?) purposes. The ATF ruling that Tannerite posts on its website (http://www.tannerite.com/legality/) gives the specific example of a farmer using binary explosives to blow up a tree stump. So my first question is; since the ATF gave such an example, could they theoretically prosecute someone for using the explosive for recreational purposes. I know that they havn't, but could they?
Here's where they grey area comes in; what if someone packed the Tannerite "in" something, in effect turning that something into a large bomb complete with flying shrapnel. There are youtube videos of people blowing apart cars and washing machines with Tannerite. If that is legal, what if someone packed a deactivated grenade with Tannerite? How is that different, and how could this be legal? Does the binary nature of the compound exempt it from traditional DD regulations? And if it is not exempt from DD regulations when packed into a grenade, why is it exempt when packed into a washing machine or into a mason jar?
What if someone packed a binary explosive onto the head of a m203 round. If Tannerite is not an anti-personal explosive, then one would not have to register the round, would they?
Again, I've never personally owned Tannerite and I'll never own a m203 or probably even dummy grenade, I'm just curious about the legal ambiguities of binary explosives. I'm also not trying to raise undue suspicion of binary explosives by asking uncomfortable questions. Considering that people are using this stuff in more and more creative ways and posting it on youtube (and I fully support their right to do so on their own land), I think if a knowledgable person could clarify some of this it could prevent someone from running afoul of the law.
