Is it Legal to Own Hand Grenades?

Hand Grenades became popular during World War I and have since become a symbol of that time. The law regarding certain weapons is not always clear because of the definitions and distinctions between different types of weapons. There are different types of hand grenades, and the characteristics of an individual grenade will help determine whether you can lawfully own a hand grenade in your jurisdiction. State law varies on ownership of weapons such as hand grenades.

Hand Grenades and the Law

Weapons laws can be confusing or hard to interpret because they are not always clearly defined. Whether or not ownership of a hand grenade is legal depends on several facts, including (but not necessarily limited to):

• Where you live. State laws vary according to the type of weapons are restricted from civilian ownership;
• Whether you are in the military and in active duty. A military member of the United States services may be entitled to have hand grenades in his possession due to his employment. 
• Whether or not the grenade in your possession is functional or not. It is possible to own the casing of a grenade without having it be explosive. If the gun powder or explosive character is removed, owning a grenade may not be illegal.
• The type of grenade. Some grenades are not federally regulated. If the law does not specifically state you can not own something, then a loop hole may exist, leaving the legal process to decide. This does not necessarily make it legal to own it, but the court will have to interpret the law if you are charged with a crime as a result of owning an undefined (not clearly stated to be illegal) weapon.

Weapons laws continue to change due to technological advancements and government shifts between conservatism and liberalism in the area of weapons ownership. Lack of knowledge regarding a law is generally not a good defense to a crime, so make sure to check with your local laws to make sure of the law where you live.

Getting Legal Help

If you are concerned about your legal rights and weapons you own, you should contact a criminal defense attorney who can help you by informing you of your state's law in this area and others as well as provide you protection if you are ever arrested due to ownership of illegal weapons. An attorney is your advocate in all criminal circumstances.