And we know that felons are banned from owning firearms! § 940.24 both defined "weapon" as a firearm, air gun, knife, or bow and arrow, as defined in Wis. Stat. The actual number is probably a lot higher. © Copyright 2015 - 2019 Help For Felons | All Rights Reserved. The reason I mention this again is because, as stated, if a crossbow is present, other hunting weapons such as rifles could be. Of course, felons can still own a bow and go hunting, but that’s another story entirely…. However, the ban on felons ownership of regular firearms also extends to possession of associated ammunitions. If the background check clears, and the buyer is … Maybe nobody is around, maybe it doesn’t seem like any big deal. It can be confusing, so check whether or not a crossbow ownership is legally allowed first. First let’s consider one big issue…is a crossbow a firearm? A firearm is “designed to expel a projectile or projectiles by the action of an explosion, expansion of gas or escape of gas.” But this generic definition excludes most pneumatic guns, spring guns, paintball guns or B-B guns, most USCG or ICC safety signal guns, and most antique weapons…and the intent of this article is not to give an encyclopedic breakdown of what’s a firearm and what is not. Maybe it’s swords, perhaps it’s shooting rifles at the range, or it could even be going out into the woods for a hunting trip with a bow or crossbow. At the time of his arrest, authorities removed several weapons from the officer including a crossbow. Crossbow hunting regulations can get very complex. If you are a convicted felon in that situation, ask your friend to maintain positive control over their own weapon, and you’ll maintain control of your crossbow if that’s what you’re using. Technically, muzzleloaders are widely thought to be antique firearms. The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. (Note that Wisconsin law extends to “other weapons”). Because you can see that while crossbow ownership by felons is allowed, more or less, in the United States, every state has its own laws. Read the rules, dot every “i” and cross every “t” and when in doubt, ask a qualified attorney or your parole officer for help! It is even dangerous for felons to be at a shooting range! The felon maybe able to get their right restored, but in general it is not. Good news for felons who like to go hunting! A former US border patrol officer was charged with possession of an illegal substance and served a six-month prison sentence. You can own a crossbow. Now, I live in WI and our DNR sucks...bad. Felons can't own fire arms but since a bow is not considered as a fire ARM the can hunt with a bow or crossbow and possess a license as well. It has a trigger and fires a projectile. Due to the strict laws on felons and firearm ownership, one might assume that a convicted felon would also be prohibited from owning a crossbow. Unless a person’s hunting privileges have been revoked, an individual with a felony conviction may purchase a permit for the archery season and/or gun deer season and use a crossbow. § 941.20 and Wis. Stat. The felon in possession of a weapon charge means that anyone convicted of a felony cannot own or possess a switch-blade, a butterfly knife, a clubbing instrument, a Taser or a stun gun. A convicted felon … And if you’ve ever seen one, you know it obviously has the ability to kill a man easily, just like a handgun. A list of locations in your area can be found online. Wis. Stat. If your state does allow ownership of a crossbow, your main concern is ensuring you have a proper seasonal license to hunt with a bow or crossbow. I know for a fact that you CAN use a crossbow in wisconsin as a felon as long as you are a) Legally Disabled to the point that you cannot pull back a bow, with a doctors approval ofcourse, or b) over the age of 65. hope it helps. Crossbow OK for felon, but Supreme Court to rule on rest of arsenal Michael Doyle - McClatchy Washington Bureau February 19, 2015 05:41 PM There are always exceptions to every rule. Felons buying deer hunting licenses even though they can’t own guns New Richmond News ^ | 10-31-07 Posted on 10/31/2007 4:47:59 PM PDT by SJackson. After completing probation or parole one can possess a cross bow. As always, our standard disclaimer–we are not here to offer legal advice, so when in doubt, felons and other hunters who might be on probation should call up their probation officer before going out on a hunting trip. You can inquire through your local jurisdiction’s police department or even with a qualified attorney. I bought a new one last year and harvested a nice doe with it. A bill to greatly expand crossbow use by deer hunters in Wisconsin was approved Thursday by a 95-0 vote in the Assembly. Whether that has been an effective strategy in their efforts to reduce crime is very debatable… Some states ban crossbow hunting regardless of a person’s criminal background, such as Oregon. So yes, a felon can own a bow in most circumstances, because a bow isn’t considered a firearm. However, some states, such as New York, prohibit convicted felons from possessing and using crossbows, so it is illegal for a felon to hunt with a crossbow in those jurisdictions. But is it worth gambling another prison sentence over? A person with a felony conviction is legally able to purchase a hunting license in the State of Wisconsin even though they cannot hunt with a gun, nor tag a deer, bear or other game that has been killed with a gun. Thus we need to know how a crossbow is classified–firearm or not? Don’t put yourself at risk! A traditional bow or crossbow is not considered a firearm … In general, a felon can only apply to have their firearm ownership rights restored after waiting for eight years from the time of their sentence completion. For example, federal law does not consider a crossbow to be a firearm. a bow that utilizes a system of levers with cables and pulleys to bend the bow’s limbs before shooting its arrows A crossbow does not fall under Kentucky's definition of a firearm. Lt. Ben Graham is the administrative lieutenant with the Wausau Police Department. No, probably not. If the felony conviction is a wobbler felony (a felony that could have been charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony, see list of wobbler felonies), or it is a qualifying conviction under Prop 64, then we can file a motion with the court to have the felony reduced to a misdemeanor. Can a felon own a crossbow? Firearms can be purchased from federal firearm dealers. A traditional bow or crossbow is not considered a firearm and may be possessed by a person with a felony conviction. Possessing an Antique Firearm. So we know that most states don’t allow felons to possess firearms, but under federal law, crossbows aren’t labelled as firearms. Not all states allow felons to possess crossbows, such as New York, which doesn’t allow felons to own weapons period. Okay, now we’re ready for the big question…. It is a felony offense for a convicted felon to possess a firearm under Wisconsin state laws. However, the regulations are not so simple. Lansing ought to fix that. Denied, he took his case all the way to the US Supreme Court.The law 18 U.S.C. Re: Can a Felon purchase a hunting license in TX? I own a couple black powder rifles. Here you go! Question: Can a person with a felony conviction hunt deer with a crossbow? : The case of Gerlat v.Christianson, 108 N.W.2d 194 (1961) says that an air gun is a firearm under WI law. Yes, we know generally what a firearm is, and of course we know that, due to federal law (the 1968 Gun Control Act, to be specific), convicted felons can’t own or sell firearms unless they’ve applied to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to have that right restored (which is only possible “if it does not deem the applicant dangerous to public safety” and “restoration is not contrary to the public interest.” … Indeed in terms of firearms, felons want to be very careful of being around others who are using them. § 941.29(1)(a)-(b), (2). The information provided on this website (Help For Felons) does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. In the state hunting manual it says that a felon may still hunt with an air rifle, bow or crossbow (65+ years old or disabled). Answer: Under Wisconsin law, an individual with a felony conviction is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Laws vary among states and the federal government as to the restriction and restoration of rights for convicted felons.Also note that, in Idaho, one does need a bowhunter certification to hunt in an archery only hunt.This past legislative season, the rules defining a firearm restriction were indeed changed. If a felon is able to obtain a hunting license in whatever state they reside in, then there should be no issue using a crossbow for that hunting, so long as permits and proper tags are acquired and, of course, the hunting season in open. Meanwhile, Washington State actually holds “lotteries” for hunting privileges for felons. In the state hunting manual it says that a felon may still hunt with an air rifle, bow or crossbow (65+ years old or disabled). More short hunting answers: Yes, we know generally what a firearm is, and of course we know that, due to federal law (the 1968 Gun Control Act, to be specific), convicted felons can’t own or sell firearms unless they’ve applied to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to have that right restored (which is only possible “if it does not deem the applicant dangerous to public safety” and “restoration is not contrary to the public interest.” So a felon might have other rights restored, but they must specifically seek firearm ownership restoration rights, and it usually takes a waiting period of eight years from their sentence completion date. However, since crossbows don't fall under the firearm umbrella, they are federally legal for felons to possess after leaving prison. In other words, at a minimum you’ll have to wait eight years…and even then your application may not be approved. When you go to buy a gun a 48-hour hold will be placed on your purchase so a background check can be completed. Recommended: Can a Felon own a Crossbow? But there’s no gas or explosion involved. Constructive possession is essentially anytime a person is able to take control of a nearby firearm, for example if you are with friends out in the field one Sunday morning and one of them leaves a rifle unattended near you while they stroll off to the truck for a beverage…you thus have ready access to that weapon in that timeframe. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Basically, the answer is that a felon can purchase and own a crossbow. The term “constructive possession” is applicable in such circumstances. For this reason, it is important to check your local state laws before going out crossbow shopping! It’s quiet in the woods. This communication does not create an attorney/client relationship. 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