Felons can't possess black powder itself

[prison/con.net]

because it's an explosive and felons can't possess explosives. However, Hodgdon''s 777 powder is a "black powder substitute". that means that if your state does not specifically prescibe cap and ball possession by a felon, it is legal for you to possess that gun and 777 powder, federal law does not preclude legal posssesion of a cap and ball gun by a felon.

SOME black powder guns use CARTRIDGES and with rare exception, cartridge firing guns are illegal under fed law, to be possessed by a felon. Also, beware single shot rifles/shotguns that swap from muzzleloader to regular ammo with just a barrel and hammer swap, or cap and ball revolvers that convert to cartridge arms with a swap of cylinders and hammers. such 'easily converted guns" and blank guns ARE illegal to possess by felon, under fed law. Fed law takes precedence over state law. your state law may say that it's ok for a felon to have longarms but not pistols, or it's ok 5 years after you're released from parole, etc, but those things do NOT put you in the clear with the feds.

http://www.gunnersden.com/index.htm.muzzleloader-gunpowder-substitutes.html

 

[Bible_Belt]

I always liked the old Dukes of Hazzard episodes where they couldn't have guns because they were on probation, but somehow blowing sh!t up with dynamite arrows was ok. That made perfect sense...when I was 6.

Fed law trumps state in that states may not be less restrictive than the Feds. However, they are always free to be more restrictive. It's the same with municipalities; they too can be more restrictive.

Plus, there's a lot of vague language often tossed around, especially in probation/parole agreements, like "dangerous weapon" or "deadly weapon" that allow them to pretty much toss you back into jail for pissing them off.

 

[prison/con.net]

almost nobody is on parole for life. you ARE a felon for life, tho (barring a pardon). Just because you're a felon doesn't mean that you're still on parole. In some cases, you have to ASK to be released from parole in order for it to be granted, and it can take 3 years or so to get clear of it.

If your felony is a FEDERAl one, a governor cannot pardon you and a judge cannot restore your rights, either. In the 9th circuit (AZ and the w coast) a judge CAN restore your rights, if your felony was a state one. Multiple prison sentences, it's not likey that he will.

HOWEVER, ALL IS NOT LOST. For about $50,000 per man, you CAN get your rights restored, even if you have multiple convictions and Federal ones, at that. If you're a murderer or really big time dope dealer, probably not, tho. it's a difficult, time-dependent thing, can only happen about once a year, at best, and has to be done as a group (dozen or more) effort. So the organizer (me) gets about 50k for his trouble/knowledge)