Can own a cannon or artillery piece?

Aden67 · Apr 18, 2013

Let me preface this question by stating I am asking it for my brother. Here is the situation. He is retiring to a beach home on St. Croix. He got interested in signal cannons...but after speaking with some folks...he is now interested in a cannon/artillery piece that will actually shoot a projectile. This is out of my league...so I throw this out to any advice/comments you may have. These are some of the issue that came to my mind:
1. What type of licensing, paperwork, etc would he need?
2. How does living on St. Croix (a US territory) affect this?
3. He has little knowledge about any of this...he's a simple hunter.
4. I guess he thinks he can just shoot the cannon from his beach into the ocean?

Thanks...

jlrhiner · Apr 18, 2013

I, too, would be interested in the responses. I've always thought my not owning a cannon was a serious character flaw.

gm272gs · Apr 18, 2013

There are a lot of hoops to jump through for firearms in the U.S. Virgin Islands, I'll tell you that!

As for cannons or guns (in the real sense of the term) which fire projectiles, artillery is defined as something firing a fixed round of ammunition with a bore diameter over .50"; they are considered "Destructive Devices" under the NFA, with a hefty tax paid on their transfer (live HE rounds for each of these would also be considered "DD"s, with a further tax on those, so most of the owners of these items reload non-HE projectiles for them on the rare occasions they get to shoot them).

Most in the continental U.S. are owned and used by the Forest Service (avalanche control), but that doesn't mean that with a lot of money plus a $200 tax stamp and an enema from the ATF&E, that you couldn't own one. In the U.S. Virgin Islands though, it may be different.

People born in the U.S. Virgin Islands are United States citizens - and enjoy all the rights afforded any U.S. Citizen - except that they cannot vote for the President and cannot elect voting members of Congress (despite being represented by a delegate).

If you live there but maintain your residency in one of the 50 states, then you CAN vote for President and representatives (in your resident state by absentee ballot, of course).

That is the limit of what I know!

gdnagle · Apr 18, 2013

I don't think you can get a license to acquire one if you live within range of the capital or white house.

I just came across this for the U.S. -- Black Powder muzzle loading cannons and mortars are legal in most states with no paperwork. A breech loading artillery gun and a modern mortar tube need Federal paperwork of a destructive device and every shell needs the similar paperwork. All regulations must apply concerning storage, usage and transportation. Not all states in the USA allow for civilian ownership of destructive devices such as field pieces and artillery.

Aden67 · Apr 18, 2013

GM272GS...thanks for the link to the VI police department. I had asked my brother if he found out what he had to do to bring guns/ammo into the island. He thought he could own/posses them just like here in the US.

Reading what they want for guns/ammo...I think the cannon idea is now a moot point.

Can own a cannon or artillery piece?

Aden67

Member

jlrhiner

US Veteran

gm272gs

Member

gdnagle

US Veteran

Aden67

Member

Similar threads

Latest posts