The legality of booby trapped firearms in the home

[Picard]

There's always the chance of you or someone else loading it and killing themselves. It'd be like keeping poison around the house in a juice bottle. Crimes can be preventing using better means.

 

[BlackJackal]

id say just remove the bolt/firing pin and lock the guns up keep bolt/firing pin locked somwhere else if your so concernd

 

[proud2deviate]

There is a device that loads into a firearm's chamber that, when struck by the firing pin, will force a plastic insert into the barrel, thus tying up the gun. I think it's called the Safe-t bullet or some such thing. I don't go in for the idea myself, but it might be the most viable option for what you want to do.

Found the website---> http://www.safetybullet.com/

 

[Cosmoline]

Trying to create a mantrap in your firearms is a recipe for disaster. Don't do it! It's a good way to end up killing yourself or a friend. There are many, many other better alternatives available as others have noted.

Beyond the legal and safety concerns, it is DEEPLY IMMORAL to intentionally create ammunition designed to harm or kill the user. Once it's stolen you have no idea what will happen to it. It could be quickly sold to someone who has no idea of its history, and sold again, before some innocent person uses it. To my mind that would make you worse than the thief.

 

[dmazur]

I know of an example where the individual rigged his tape player (a few years ago...think CD or MP3 player now) with blasting caps, as he was tired of having them stolen out of his car.

It was considered a booby trap, and the burglar sued and won. I don't have a link, but this made the local news at the time.

I know it seems wrong at some level that the property owner can't do this.

I believe "no booby traps" laws go back to setting man traps in orchards to keep tramps from stealing fruit as far back as the 1930's, so this isn't new.

 

[Autolycus]

Why not just harden the house and make it harder for someone to break into your house? Not to mention get a safe? These things make a lot more sense than boobytrapping your guns.

 

[yesit'sloaded]

You could load the guns with wax bullets. They can look very real, but are just about harmless if fired at anyone further than a few feet away.

 

[leadcounsel]

Booby traps have time and again been considered illegal and the criminal and civil penalties are stiff.

Buy the best safe you can afford. Sleep soundly.

 

[Tim Burke]

It's rare to get this many responses all telling you the same thing.
That's a clue.

 

[Kentak]

A terrible, terrible idea. Chances are you or someone else you care about will blow up the gun. Even if it works as intended, it would likely mean the end of your freedom and cost you everything you own.

Secure you guns the responsible way.

K

 

[86thecat]

Thief steals firearm then sells it w/ ammo to uninvolved third party. After major injury or death gun is tracked back to you. How will that work out for you?