If the BATF doesn't classify muzzleloaders as firearms even if you live in a restrictive state or town having a loaded one shouldn't be classified as having a loaded firearm, right?
"One" would like to think so, but likely not. Here, there are 2 schools of thought. Provincial and Federal. The Provincial stat says a ML is not loaded simply by having powder and shot in the
barrel, but must not be capped or primed. The Federal government says powder and shot constitutes being loaded. That, is how the situation was some 10 years ago & still is with the Provincial
government, but I do not know what the current Federal 'tends" are.
Federally, anything used as a firearm, becomes a firearm. I'm quite certain this is the current "law".