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'Loaded" Definition for Revolvers

19K views 31 replies 11 participants last post by  davidbilly 
#1 ·
I know that in Utah, for someone without a concealed carry permit, they can open carry, but it has to meet the legal definition of unloaded. That's easy for a semi-auto pistol, but I'm not sure how that applies to a revolver. More specifically I'd like help with both a single action, and double action revolver.

My understanding is it must take 2 actions to fire. That's easy enough. A single action revolver always takes 2 actions to fire, cock hammer and trigger pull. For the Double action, that would be 2 trigger pulls.

But, there also can't be a round in the firing position. But, what is the firing position for a revolver that is not cocked? Is it the round under the hammer, or is it the next round over, that will be under the hammer, after the hammer is cocked, and the cylinder has rotated?

So, can anyone tell me how these rules apply for both a Single Action and Double Action revolver?

thanks
 
#2 ·
As far as I know, there is no distinction between SA and DA for this.

It's considered "Utah loaded" when the cylinder under the hammer AND the cylinder next in rotation are both empty.

(I had the same question, as I was thinking about carrying my 1851 Navy a while back...then I called the BCI for clarification.)
 
#3 ·
I do believe (and someone will correct me I'm sure if I am wrong) that a single action only requires the chamber under the hammer to be empty. It's 2 actions are cocking the hammer which rotates the live round and pulling the trigger.
 
#4 ·
Let's start with the code, which is at 76-10-502. Ignoring black powder firearms, here is the relevant portion:


76-10-502. When weapon deemed loaded.

(1) For the purpose of this chapter, any pistol, revolver, shotgun, rifle, or other weapon described in this part shall be deemed to be loaded when there is an unexpended cartridge, shell, or projectile in the firing position.

(2) Pistols and revolvers shall also be deemed to be loaded when an unexpended cartridge, shell, or projectile is in a position whereby the manual operation of any mechanism once would cause the unexpended cartridge, shell, or projectile to be fired.

(3)...


Ok. Usual caveats. I'm not a lawyer, I don't go to jail if any of this is wrong and you act on it, etc. My best understanding and application of this code is as follows:

So, under (1) if a round is "in the firing position" the firearm is loaded. A round under the hammer is in firing position, even if that round cannot be fired via the normal means. Even though cocking the gun would rotate the cylinder and cause this round not to fire, at the moment, the round is in firing position. The gun is loaded.

Now, look at (2). Where does a round need to be to be fired through "the manual operation of any mechanism once"? Put another way, can ANY round be fired through the manual operation of any mechanism once?

DA Uncocked: If the gun is a DA and uncocked, then pulling the trigger will rotate the cylinder one chamber, cock the hammer, and then drop the hammer on the cylinder that just rotated into position. This will cause a round to fire if the round is in the next up chamber.
DA Cocked: If the gun is a DA and is cocked, then pulling the trigger will cause the hammer to fall onto the chamber under hammer. The next chamber will not fired by pulling the trigger once.

SA Uncocked: If the gun is an SA, but uncocked, then pulling the trigger has no effect. No round will be fired.
SA Cocked: If the gun is an SA and it is cocked, then pulling the trigger causes the hammer to fall on the chamber already under the hammer causing it to fire. But this case is covered by (1).

Simply put then, an SA revolver must have one chamber empty to be "Utah unloaded": The chamber under the hammer.
A DA needs either one or two chambers empty to be "Utah unloaded": If cocked, just the chamber under the hammer. If not cocked, both the chamber under the hammer and the next chamber up.

There is an exception. Some revolvers like the NAA mini-revolvers, have a notch between chambers into which the hammer can be parked. In this position, there is no round in firing position since the cylinder is halfway between two chambers. So we are covered under (1) for not being loaded. Assuming the revolving is a SA (as the NAA mini-revolvers are), pulling the trigger with the hammer down in this parked position has no effect. So there is no single mechanism that will cause any other round to fire and we are covered under (2) as well. Such a gun can be carried with all chambers loaded and still be considered "Utah Unloaded" as long as the hammer is resting in the safety slot between chambers.

Again, I'm not a lawyer, this is not legal advice, and so on and so forth.

Charles
 
#5 ·
Also, if carrying sans permit, be aware of locations where you cannot (generally) legally possess a gun even if it is unloaded.

Under State law, this includes all schools and school grounds K-12, plus post secondary (ie college campuses). It also includes day care centers, including the room where the day care is located if situated in a private residence.

Under federal law, guns are (generally) banned in all K-12 schools, as well as on the grounds, and for a distance of 1000 feet out from the edge of the school grounds, as the crow flies, without regard to how far one would actually have to travel to get to the school grounds. While this law is rarely enforced in the absence of a "real" crime, it is on the books and you should be aware of it and make an informed opinion as to the risks.

In urban areas of Utah it can be difficult to map out a course where one can travel on foot without crossing the 1000 foot exclusion zone created by the federal gun free school zone law. In rural towns, the three schools (grammar, middle, high) might well make the entire city off limits to permit free carry.

Possession inside your private car is protected even in the 1000 foot exclusion zone, I think.

Charles
 
#6 ·
Bagpiper---- after my read of your two posts you seem to have covered the material well and I have nothing to add OR detract from! :crown:
 
#9 ·
Bill801 said:
As far as I know, there is no distinction between SA and DA for this.

It's considered "Utah loaded" when the cylinder under the hammer AND the cylinder next in rotation are both empty.

(I had the same question, as I was thinking about carrying my 1851 Navy a while back...then I called the BCI for clarification.)
^ this.

If I remember correctly, it actually spells that out somewhere in the code but I could be mistaken on that.
 
#10 ·
I have felt for a long time, this is poorly written law. The state doesn't seem to want to fix it, their solution seems to be; "Get a permit and don't worry about it."
 
#11 ·
I wouldn't dream of arguing with Charles on this, I think he did a very accurate assessment and I would agree 100%.

That said, the "common" explanation is an empty cylinder under the hammer, and the next cylinder to come up. Right or wrong, that's the best you can expect an OEO to accept, assuming he knows enough to know it's okay for you to carry it with any bullets in it at all. Or empty for that matter. If it came to a court of law, you got a good attorney and at least a neutral judge, you'd probably win. My next gun purchase will most likely be a revolver, while as a CC permit holder I'm not bound by it, that's still how I'd advise a non permit holder to carry.

Unless you can afford to be a test case, it's simply easier to go with the flow. IMHO, and as Charles also said IANAL.

Mel
 
#12 ·
And, correct, the law as written doesn't specify SA or DA. It is just the 2 parts of the definition that make the difference.

First, must be More that one action to fire.

Second, No live round under the hammer or the next cylinder to rotate into firing position.

And, finally, with a permit to conceal it doesn't apply to the permit holder in any manner per the law. So, I see it as a benefit of having a permit!
 
#13 ·
JoeSparky said:
And, correct, the law as written doesn't specify SA or DA. It is just the 2 parts of the definition that make the difference.
...
And, finally, with a permit to conceal it doesn't apply to the permit holder in any manner per the law. So, I see it as a benefit of having a permit!
To be clear, the two part test is:

1-No round in firing position. This is most logically taken as "no round in line with the barrel". This part of the definition (usually) requires at least one chamber to be empty on a revolver. (The exception would be guns like the NAA mini-revolver that have "safe slots" between rounds such that the cylinder can be parked with no round in firing position.)

2-No round can be fired by the actuation of a single mechanism once. It is this part that where SA vs DA, hammer up vs hammer down or even the presence of a manual safety (some small number of revolvers can be found with manual safeties) would all come into play.

It is good to periodically review the code itself. Too often someone's explanation of the code starts to replace the actual code in our mind. (Not unlike the way Jefferson's analogy of the "Wall of Separation" too often replaces the actual language of the 1st amendment in both laymen's and jurists' minds and rulings.)

Being able to carry fully loaded without worrying about criminal violations over minor technical errors or "loaded" vs not loaded in Utah statute is one of the great benefits of the carry permit. Not worrying about violating federal GFSZ's (including the 1000' exclusion range beyond actual school property) is another.

Charles
 
#15 ·
quychang said:
I wouldn't dream of arguing with Charles on this, I think he did a very accurate assessment and I would agree 100%.

That said, the "common" explanation is an empty cylinder under the hammer, and the next cylinder to come up. Right or wrong, that's the best you can expect an OEO to accept, assuming he knows enough to know it's okay for you to carry it with any bullets in it at all. Or empty for that matter. If it came to a court of law, you got a good attorney and at least a neutral judge, you'd probably win. My next gun purchase will most likely be a revolver, while as a CC permit holder I'm not bound by it, that's still how I'd advise a non permit holder to carry.

Unless you can afford to be a test case, it's simply easier to go with the flow. IMHO, and as Charles also said IANAL.
Mel raises a good point.

I would add only that if someone is able to avoid doing something stupid that would allow a cop to pile on additional, valid charges, when he says your "Utah unloaded" revolver really is loaded, I doubt it would have to go to court.

I've found that Duty Sergeants and Lieutenants tend to either know the law much better than patrol officers, or at least be willing to look at code when presented to them in a polite manner. Knowing where to find the code in a reasonable amount of time helps provide credibility. While I need to update it, I have long kept a 1/3 sheet of paper folded in my wallet with the most important code reproduced in small enough font to fit, but still readable. I'm considering changing that to include only code headings and a short summary so I can include more code: basically a personal index to Utah's gun laws.

And since prosecutors don't like to lose cases, I'd suspect that a pre-trial visit the city prosecutor or DA to go over the facts and code carefully would likely result in charges being dropped. I know of some great people in Utah who have spent a fair bit of donated time helping others at this stage as well as with convincing Forest Service, BLM, or Utah Department of Wildlife managers that their subordinates are mis-interpreting and mis-applying the law.

In anything we do, there is the risk of an unreasonable police officer, bad prosecutor, and bad judge all coming together to make life difficult and expensive. Folks need to assess their own situation and make their own decisions based on their personal risk tolerance. But I am also reminded of the motto over at OCDO, "A right unexercised is a right lost."

I can certainly find exceptions, I think, but in general there is something to that. Utah's definition of "loaded" is about as good for gun owners as we could hope for, short of eliminating all laws that make loaded more of a crime than unloaded, all else being equal. Our statutory definition of loaded gives gun owners the largest leeway possible, so long as we are going to draw a distinction between "loaded" and non loaded.

Charles
 
#16 ·
mljdeckard said:
I have felt for a long time, this is poorly written law. The state doesn't seem to want to fix it, their solution seems to be; "Get a permit and don't worry about it."
So long as we have any legal distinction between a loaded gun and an unloaded gun, the current definition provides the law abiding gun owner about as much latitude as we could hope to get. It allows us to legally possess/carry a gun as close to readily usable as one can get without actually eliminating all legal distinction between loaded and un-loaded.

Utah/Israeli Carry is not as convenient or fast to access has having one in the pipe. But it is a lot faster than having to insert a mag into a fully empty gun.

Similarly, having one or two chambers empty on a revolver is not as convenient as having it fully loaded, but is a lot faster than needing to load a revolver from completely empty.

Ideally, we'd eliminate all statutes that treat a loaded gun more harshly than an unloaded gun, all else being equal. But even there, I fear the natural course would be elevate all unloaded guns to be treated as harshly as loaded guns. Consider on the emotional difference between an "unloaded gun" that wasn't under lock and key, vs a "loaded gun completely accessible to children."

We need to continue to work on cultural/social changes as much as we do on statutory changes. At some point, statutes are merely a(n imperfect) reflection of our cultural and social values.

And since they also reinforce cultural and social values, pushing for and obtaining permit-free constitutional carry is an important effort even for those who never foresee dropping their permits.

Charles
 
#17 ·
My question on the NAA mini revolvers has to do with their safety slots in the cylinder. They are single action revolvers, but when used properly, they are carried with the hammer down, BETWEEN, cylinders. So, there would not be a round the the firing position.

So, am I right in assuming that one of those revolvers could be carried fully loaded, when open carrying without a permit?
 
#18 ·
tylosaurus said:
My question on the NAA mini revolvers has to do with their safety slots in the cylinder. They are single action revolvers, but when used properly, they are carried with the hammer down, BETWEEN, cylinders. So, there would not be a round the the firing position.

So, am I right in assuming that one of those revolvers could be carried fully loaded, when open carrying without a permit?
Yeppers
 
#19 ·
tylosaurus said:
My question on the NAA mini revolvers has to do with their safety slots in the cylinder. They are single action revolvers, but when used properly, they are carried with the hammer down, BETWEEN, cylinders. So, there would not be a round the the firing position.

So, am I right in assuming that one of those revolvers could be carried fully loaded, when open carrying without a permit?
Sort of... because when the hammer is down 'between' cylinders, it's not technically loaded. So, cylinder full, but NOT loaded, as opposed to 'fully loaded'.
 
#20 ·
althor said:
tylosaurus said:
My question on the NAA mini revolvers has to do with their safety slots in the cylinder. They are single action revolvers, but when used properly, they are carried with the hammer down, BETWEEN, cylinders. So, there would not be a round the the firing position.

So, am I right in assuming that one of those revolvers could be carried fully loaded, when open carrying without a permit?
Sort of... because when the hammer is down 'between' cylinders, it's not technically loaded. So, cylinder full, but NOT loaded, as opposed to 'fully loaded'.
My problem with this explanation is that it only meets 1 of the 2 requirements. There is not a round under the hammer, but on the other hand, there is one in the first cylinder to rotate into firing position. So I'm not sure you could sell this configuration as meeting the Utah unloaded rules. If someone can correct me, I'd be happy to be wrong.

Mel
 
#21 ·
quychang said:
My problem with this explanation is that it only meets 1 of the 2 requirements. There is not a round under the hammer, but on the other hand, there is one in the first cylinder to rotate into firing position. So I'm not sure you could sell this configuration as meeting the Utah unloaded rules. If someone can correct me, I'd be happy to be wrong.
Again, we have to go back to the code.

The first test is: Is there a round in firing position? In this case no. The cylinder doesn't have any chamber in firing position.

The second test is: Is there "an unexpended cartridge, shell, or projectile is in a position whereby the manual operation of any mechanism once would cause the unexpended cartridge, shell, or projectile to be fired."

What is the one mechanism that will cause the next up shell to be fired in this case? If the revolver is an SA, I contend there is none. Pulling the trigger does nothing. Cocking the hammer rotates the next chamber (with its live round) into firing position but does not fire that round. To fire the round requires the operation of a second mechanism: namely the trigger.

While this can all be a bit complicated, it is complicated in favor of the law-abiding gun owner who is able to keep a gun as close to fully ready to use as possible while still having the gun be considered "unloaded" for most legal purposes. The easy definition would "a gun is loaded when any live rounds are in the gun". That would not be nearly as convenient for Utah's gun owners.

Charles
 
#22 ·
bagpiper said:
Again, we have to go back to the code.

The first test is: Is there a round in firing position? In this case no. The cylinder doesn't have any chamber in firing position.

The second test is: Is there "an unexpended cartridge, shell, or projectile is in a position whereby the manual operation of any mechanism once would cause the unexpended cartridge, shell, or projectile to be fired."

What is the one mechanism that will cause the next up shell to be fired in this case? If the revolver is an SA, I contend there is none. Pulling the trigger does nothing. Cocking the hammer rotates the next chamber (with its live round) into firing position but does not fire that round. To fire the round requires the operation of a second mechanism: namely the trigger.

While this can all be a bit complicated, it is complicated in favor of the law-abiding gun owner who is able to keep a gun as close to fully ready to use as possible while still having the gun be considered "unloaded" for most legal purposes. The easy definition would "a gun is loaded when any live rounds are in the gun". That would not be nearly as convenient for Utah's gun owners.

Charles
And again, I have to go to the argument that you might have a hard time selling this to the average OEO on the street as meeting the criteria. I'm sure technically you are absolutely correct. He's still going to expect an empty cylinder as being the first one under the hammer. I'm probably wrong, but I wish a lawyer, or a LEO would weigh in on this conversation

Mel
 
#23 ·
quychang said:
bagpiper said:
Again, we have to go back to the code.

The first test is: Is there a round in firing position? In this case no. The cylinder doesn't have any chamber in firing position.

The second test is: Is there "an unexpended cartridge, shell, or projectile is in a position whereby the manual operation of any mechanism once would cause the unexpended cartridge, shell, or projectile to be fired."

What is the one mechanism that will cause the next up shell to be fired in this case? If the revolver is an SA, I contend there is none. Pulling the trigger does nothing. Cocking the hammer rotates the next chamber (with its live round) into firing position but does not fire that round. To fire the round requires the operation of a second mechanism: namely the trigger.

While this can all be a bit complicated, it is complicated in favor of the law-abiding gun owner who is able to keep a gun as close to fully ready to use as possible while still having the gun be considered "unloaded" for most legal purposes. The easy definition would "a gun is loaded when any live rounds are in the gun". That would not be nearly as convenient for Utah's gun owners.

Charles
And again, I have to go to the argument that you might have a hard time selling this to the average OEO on the street as meeting the criteria. I'm sure technically you are absolutely correct. He's still going to expect an empty cylinder as being the first one under the hammer. I'm probably wrong, but I wish a lawyer, or a LEO would weigh in on this conversation

Mel
Why do you think you need to 'sell' this to an [OEO] (Don't let your bias show too much there). The law is the law. Either you can fire with one action or you can't. Either you have a round in the firing position or you don't. All of this talk of 'two actions' and 'next cylinder up', etc... is just paraphrasing done by well intentioned people trying to explain the law... but not the law.
 
#24 ·
althor said:
Why do you think you need to 'sell' this to an [OEO] (Don't let your bias show too much there). The law is the law. Either you can fire with one action or you can't. Either you have a round in the firing position or you don't. All of this talk of 'two actions' and 'next cylinder up', etc... is just paraphrasing done by well intentioned people trying to explain the law... but not the law.
I guess because I've had conversations with LEO's that were convinced it wasn't okay for a concealed permit holder to carry with one in the pipe, or a fully loaded revolver. Why do you think they're smart enough to even recognize the hammer between cylinders as being a safety position, much less that it's okay to have a full cylinder?

Mel
 
#25 ·
quychang said:
althor said:
Why do you think you need to 'sell' this to an [OEO] (Don't let your bias show too much there). The law is the law. Either you can fire with one action or you can't. Either you have a round in the firing position or you don't. All of this talk of 'two actions' and 'next cylinder up', etc... is just paraphrasing done by well intentioned people trying to explain the law... but not the law.
I guess because I've had conversations with LEO's that were convinced it wasn't okay for a concealed permit holder to carry with one in the pipe, or a fully loaded revolver. Why do you think they're smart enough to even recognize the hammer between cylinders as being a safety position, much less that it's okay to have a full cylinder?

Mel
I guess I don't see how the definition of loaded comes into play with your example above as a concealed permit holder doesn't have to worry about whether the weapon is loaded or not in the first place.

And for the person carrying without a permit, what do you think a court will do when the facts come out, if it even goes that far? I assume that the officer will get schooled and you can say neener neener.
 
#26 ·
quychang said:
And again, I have to go to the argument that you might have a hard time selling this to the average OEO on the street as meeting the criteria. I'm sure technically you are absolutely correct. He's still going to expect an empty cylinder as being the first one under the hammer. I'm probably wrong, but I wish a lawyer, or a LEO would weigh in on this conversation
The last time I had a the privilege of having a similar conversation with a Peace Officer it was quite cordial. And when I offered to discuss the matter and go over the actual code with his Duty Sergeant and/or Lieutenant we did just that. We were discussing whether my (concealed) carry permit allowed me to open carry my 1911 fully loaded.

Admittedly, I get whatever "privilege" is given to middle-aged, fat, balding, white guys who dress reasonably conservatively (for having a 1911 OCd on his hip). But I'd like to think my comportment also contributed a lot. I suspect my ability to bring up the code on their laptop knowing that we wanted to look at 53-5-7xx (carry permit section) and 76-10-5xx (general firearms laws) probably also gave me a little credibility as I brought up the various relevant sections and explained the interactions between them.

Now, this was a unique situation in that it was at a major city event (Independence Day midway) with the Sergeant and Lieutenant close at hand.

Under other situations, I'd not argue much with an officer on the street. If he wanted to issue a citation, I'd sign it. If he insisted I remove a round or two, I'd do so. If he wanted to impound my gun or arrest me, I'd not offer physical resistance.

I would then go as soon as practicable to visit with the Duty Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Deputy Chief, and/or Chief. I expect they'd pull out the actual code book at my request and we'd go over the code. And I fully expect they'd come to agreement with me on what that code means. It just isn't that hard to understand once you read it carefully, and especially once someone explains it. Especially once someone explains it, someone else reading the code has only a couple of choices: Accept that explanation as accurate, or else put forth their own explanation. But their alternate explanation needs to comport with the code they are reading; not with their faulty understanding or analogies of the code, but of the code itself.

I think most of the police leadership in Utah departments is well enough versed in reading statutes, and have enough personal integrity that when confronted with that choice--in a non-dangerous environment like their office--they are much more likely to say, "Crap. I may have been mistaken about this and might need to do some training for my officers."

No doubt, one could act like a jerk and make it very difficult for the police leadership to get to that point. But barring that, my sample size of 2 with Utah officers says they tend to be fairly reasonable and understanding of the law once they get a chance to read it.

If the cops are unreasonable that stage, I'd expect a visit with the city or county attorney would be successful. Those guys care about win/loss record and bringing charges for conduct that isn't illegal is a good way to lose a case. Worst comes to worst, I'd have to hire an attorney.

In the case at hand, I've got a permit and so the whole definition of "loaded" doesn't really apply as I've got that statutory exemption to the bans on carrying a "loaded" firearm. But there are lots of things regarding guns where someone might misinterpret. Does someone have the notion that I can't OC my firearm in a school zone even though I have a permit? Does someone get upset that I'm shooting on public lands where discharge is perfectly legal? Do they think that my permit doesn't allow me to carry a fully loaded long gun in my car? (We'll never find out because I don't carry long guns fully loaded in my car even though I am legal to do so.)

Ultimately, we either know the law and behave legally, prepared to defend against erroneous charges, or else we let our conduct be restricted not by law, but what we think someone else might believe the law to be or even want it to be. If someone wants to err on the side of caution, I won't fault them. I just don't think the risk is all that high on this issue.

Charles

(My second sample was a routine traffic stop for speeding along Highway 6. I gave the local revenue officer* my license and permit to carry. He took possession of my gun as he wrote the ticket and as he handed it back said I couldn't legally have a round in the chamber in the car. Since I had my wallet out I pulled out my reference sheet and explained that not only did my permit allow me to carry fully loaded, but that just the prior legislative session the law had been changed to allow carrying a fully loaded firearm in one's automobile without even needing a permit. He asked if I was a lawyer and I responded, "No. I just figure a guy who carries a gun better know the laws well enough to stay legal." He didn't say another word about my gun, handed it to me, gave me my ticket, and was off to find another donation.)

*Yes, I was exceeding the posted limit on a rural highway under ideal conditions with low traffic volume. No, it wasn't excessive, but the enforcement was. And without even an option to attend traffic class or otherwise minimize the reported points on my insurance, it was obvious that this was far more about revenue than safety or even education. Still, lesson learned. I paid the ticket and celebrated when the speed limit was raised. :D
 
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