NYC police: Cannon found loaded with powder, ball

This photo provided by the New York City Police Department shows an 18th century cannon belonging to the Central Park Conservancy in New York, Friday, Jan 11, 2013. / AP Photo/New York City Police Department

NEW YORK New York City police say an 18th century cannon was found loaded with gun powder and a cannon ball during a routine cleaning at the Central Park Conservancy.

Police say residual gun powder was spotted after a piece of rust was removed Friday from the cannon, exposing the cannon ball. Authorities were summoned to remove the gun powder and make the cannon safe for public display. The cannon came from a British Royal Navy Ship, the HMS, circa 1763 to 1780.

Packing material, gun powder and a cannon ball are occasionally found inside cemented cannons when they are X-rayed during routine cleaning. A spokeswoman for the Central Park conservancy had no comment.

[djberson]

HMS Hussar, not the "HMS."

[Chod678]

British Royal Navy Ship, the HMS ??? Argh, matey.

[djberson]

The ship was simply named "The HMS"??? Amazing.

[eroteme2]

We are or soon will be on a roll! Let's ban 18th century cannons.

[Number_19]

Are cannons considered WMDs? I mean, one shot could kill 26 people! How do we quantify the M in WMD? Conversely, how would Wayne LaPierre view assault rifles if someone developed a .223 round (for example) that detonated a small nuclear blast upon impact? Is that still a firearm protected under 2nd Amendment? If so, and if each bullet could kill 10 people within a 50 yard radius, then at what point does a "firearm" become a WMD? Would it only be when a high-capacity magazine was used and fully emptied? I've owned guns for 50 years, but I quit the NRA 45 years ago because I thought as a teenager they were going nuts. I now don't know if there's a line even THEY would draw!

[Kenny_Vee]

Wayne LaPierre was quick to announce a new NRA initiative to stop any regulation on cannons. Because the only way to stop a bad guy with a cannon is a good guy with a cannon. He also wants cannons placed in schools across the country by next week.

[kbbpll]

When cannons are outlawed, only outlaws will have cannons.