Re: Laws and permits

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: Nathan Savir <thoobik-at-yahoo-dot-com> 

then making a rail gun is probably a bad idea ....

seriously though, thanks for the advice.

Tesla list <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com> wrote:
Original poster: Jim Lux

At 05:38 PM 4/14/2004 -0600, you wrote:
 >Original poster: Nathan Savir
 >
 >Would anyone happen to know about laws involving making high-powered
 >magnetic devices at home? We actually want to make a magnetic gun, like
 >the coil that our physics teacher has that launches a metal ring several
 >meters into the air, but I though Tesla coilers might know things I should
 >be aware of. Permits we'd have to apply for or something? Any advice?
 >
 >thanks

No laws specifically regulate such things. However, there are a whole host
of laws about "nuisances", "hazardous activities", "destructive devices",
"disturbing the peace", etc. , any or all of which can conceivably be applied.

Rule 1) Don't ask the officials. They can easily say NO, w! ithout having to
think about it, and then you're stuck.

Rule 2) Don't draw attention to yourself. No loud bangs. No shooting at
mannikin targets in the front yard, etc.

Rule 3) Make sure you operate it with reasonable (visible) safety
precautions (things like safe places for the projectile to go), so if
someone does show up an ask questions, you don't look like some idiot who's
going to hurt someone. You can do remarkably dangerous things in the
course of a legitimate business (which could be in your garage or living
room, like any other business), but it's got to look "real".


While what you're doing isn't a firearm (in the legal sense), it has
effects like one, and will make the gendarmes accordingly nervous. Pretty
much every city has laws that prohibit discharge of firearms in homes, and
if the locals feel that you're making a firearm, it's going to be an uphill
battle to convince them otherwise. They might wa! nt to confiscate first, and
work out the details later, and that "working out the details" might take a
lot of time, money, and aggravation, as well as "marking" you for future
attention.

I note that things like potato cannons are often classed as "homemade
destructive devices", the possession of which are a felony in
California. You can probably fight it out in court, but it's going to be
expensive.