# Any legal limiitations on owning a flaming pitch tossing catapult? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 19, 2003, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916 "2003-12-19T05:06:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/1 "2003-12-19T05:06:53Z")
Like the ones in the beginning of the movie “Gladiator”. Just wonder if I could build one of these and test it in my backyard so long as the balls of flaming pitch stayed on my side of the fence? Who has to power to say I can’t do this if it’s not proscribed by law? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Zero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Saint\_Zero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Zero)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/2 "2003-12-19T05:40:39Z")
I’m sure the police could come up with a few dozen reasons why it’s a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![netscape\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8c91f0/32.png) [@netscape\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/netscape_6)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/3 "2003-12-19T05:47:44Z")
maybe you could do it a large empty parking lot. ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/4 "2003-12-19T06:02:13Z")
It isn’t against VA law to make catapults. It is against the local county laws where I live to throw flaming balls of pitch. It’s also against the law to discharge missiles of any sort. Actually, they have some pretty strict rules about “open fires” here too. I think burning pitch falling out of the sky would be considered an open fire. Tris ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/5 "2003-12-19T06:04:13Z")
Yep, you would probably run afoul of the law with the _operation_ of a flaming pitch catapault, rather than just with it’s construction. Or a million or so laws. ---
**Author:** ![radar\_ralf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@radar\_ralf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/radar_ralf)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/6 "2003-12-19T06:04:54Z")
Just remember, if flaming pitch tossing catapults are outlawed, only outlaws will have flaming pitch tossing catapults. ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/7 "2003-12-19T06:35:35Z")
You can have my flaming pitch tossing catapult when you pry it from my… …oh never mind ---
**Author:** ![netscape\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8c91f0/32.png) [@netscape\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/netscape_6)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/8 "2003-12-19T06:41:20Z")
50 gallon flaming pitch tossing catapluts should be outlawed. no one needs that kind of fire pitch power. also flaming pitch tossing catapluts would make an great name for a rock band. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/9 "2003-12-19T06:48:39Z")
What if it´s just a semi-automatic flaming pitch tossing catapult? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![netscape\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8c91f0/32.png) [@netscape\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/netscape_6)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/10 "2003-12-19T06:58:55Z")
depends is it for recreation or hunting?🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/11 "2003-12-19T07:44:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Saint Zero \* > \*\*I’m sure the police could come up with a few dozen reasons why it’s a bad idea. \*\* Yeah, but you could just fling flaming pitch at them until they go away. ---
**Author:** ![MrTuffPaws](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@MrTuffPaws](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrTuffPaws)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/12 "2003-12-19T08:14:39Z")
In California, even flaming pitch slingshots are outlawed. ---
**Author:** ![dqa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dqa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dqa)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/13 "2003-12-19T08:36:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Triskadecamus \* > **It’s also against the law to discharge missiles of any sort.** I recall a few years ago in Pennsylvania, someone dumped a Christmas tree off their balcony, hitting a person or power line or some such below. They were charged with illegally launching a missile. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/14 "2003-12-19T13:32:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ale \* > \*\*What if it´s just a semi-automatic flaming pitch tossing catapult? 😃 \*\* But could you get a concealed-carry permit for it? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/15 "2003-12-19T13:47:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dqa \* > \*\*I recall a few years ago in Pennsylvania, someone dumped a Christmas tree off their balcony, hitting a person or power line or some such below. They were charged with illegally launching a missile. \*\* That just might be because there isn’t a specific law against being a fucking moron. ---
**Author:** ![Papermache\_Prince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@Papermache\_Prince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Papermache_Prince)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/16 "2003-12-19T14:02:48Z")
State regulations will vary. For example in Massachusetts > [@](#): > > 102A. Possession of Infernal Machine; Notice of Seizure. Whoever, other than > a police or other law enforcement officer acting in the discharge of his official > duties, has in his possession or under control an infernal machine or > a similar instrument, contrivance or device shall be punished by imprisonment > in the state prison for not more than ten years or in jail for not more than > two and one half years, or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars, > or by both such fine and imprisonment, and the said machine, instrument, contrivance > or device shall be forfeited to the commonwealth. The term “infernal > machine,” as used in this section, shall include any device for endangering > life or doing unusual damage to property, or both, by fire or explosion, > whether or not contrived to ignite or explode automatically and whether or > not disguised so as to appear harmless. From this pdf at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives [website](http://www.atf.gov/). ---
**Author:** ![LemonThrower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@LemonThrower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LemonThrower)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/17 "2003-12-19T14:26:40Z")
Only well regulated militias should have flaming pitch tossing catapluts. J/k, I think the penumbras and emanations of the 2nd amendment guarantee your right to a flaming pitch tossing cataplut on demand. Realistically, I have seen pumpkin patch owners with catapults for their unsold crop. It probably would not be difficult to modify these to accomodate flaming pitch. Of course, finding good pitch these days isn’t as easy as it used to be. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/18 "2003-12-19T14:37:01Z")
what about tossing flaming lemons? Is that illegal? ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/19 "2003-12-19T14:41:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by netscape 6 \* > \*\*depends is it for recreation or hunting?🙂 \*\* Home defense. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916/20 "2003-12-19T14:57:50Z")
As long as it doesn’t have a bayonet lug it’s probably OK. Otherwise it might be considered an “Assault Catapult”. You also need to make sure the magazine can’t hold more than 10 balls of flaming pitch at once. Use of high capacity flaming pitch magazines are limited to law enforcement uses only. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-legal-limiitations-on-owning-a-flaming-pitch-tossing-catapult/219916.md?page=2)