U.S. governors urge Turks and Caicos to release Americans as Florida woman becomes 5th tourist arrested for ammo in luggage
U.S. governors urge Turks and Caicos to release Americans as Florida woman becomes 5th tourist arrested for ammo in luggage
The governors of Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and Virginia wrote a letter Tuesday asking the territory to show mercy to the Americans arrested on the island.
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I don't understand how ammo ends up in someone's luggage. It's not like people pack their ammo in luggage to go to the gun range. but I know someone that works for TSA and I believe they said finding bullets in luggage is the most common way people get in trouble.
I want to know why. Are they going to gun stores while traveling and saying, "holy shit! Hornady Critical Defense 9mm for $20 a boxβ½ I can't pass this deal up!" That's the only thing I can think of.
I have various bags that get used for range trips and travel. I am METICULOUS about clearing the gun stuff out of a bag when Iβm done. Same with my vehicle, as I cross an international border from time to time and donβt want my truck getting ripped apart. Every bit of gun stuff that goes in the truck on range day is accounted for and removed when I get home.
The real answer is simple. These people are irresponsible fuckwits that give responsible gun owners a shitty name. You can see it every time you go to the range. People shooting the ceiling, people turning around with a pistol in hand and muzzling the whole room. There are a metric fuck ton of people with guns in the US that shouldnβt be considered qualified to own them.
And we've tried everything from "making guns easier to get" to "absolutely nothing," and we're out of ideas.
I really wish we could have a good faith conversation in this country about the intersections between rights and responsibilities. Until then, I'm fine with people going to prison in foreign countries for this kinda crap.
Lefty gun owner here, and we havenβt done βnothingβ but certainly not enough. Gun control advocates have always done things that feel good and do nothing to prevent violence. Magazine capacity bans (one columbine shooter had 14 ten round ban compliant mags) and bans on cosmetic features like heat shrouds and pistol grips do absolutely nothing to keep anyone safer. People will just train to be effective with pesky ban compliant features, or, you know, ignore the law.
Michigan did something great in response to a school shooting. If a child or otherwise restricted person gains access to your firearms and harms someone, you get slapped with a major felony, a law thatβs already been put to use a few times. So it basically makes a safe mandatory by placing the fear of a lengthy sentence on leaving your guns out for kids to grab. Itβs something.
Personally, I wouldnβt mind seeing an actual proficiency test, one that weeds out the lowest common denominator. I have sought training and education consistently over years to participate in competitive shooting events, and Iβve literally shot with cops that I wouldnβt let clean their gun in my kitchen. The βtestβ for a concealed carry license is a joke, id like to see a true test of safety knowledge to even own a firearm.
Canadians have to take and pass an expensive, lengthy course to get a gun license.
Thatβs one part of Canadian law I could be okay with. Keep carry permits (with additional training and testing). Keep American castle doctrine and self defense laws that provide protection for reasonable use of force. Add a fast track to purchase for victims of domestic abuse or stalking.
Iβm unwavering in my belief that people should have the right to lethally defend from mortal threats and sexual assault. Canadian law affords very little legal protection for such cases. Thatβs at least one part we get right.
I never put gun stuff in anything other than a range bag, and I never take range bags traveling. I don't understand - are these people using their travel luggage as range bags? I can't say I've ever seen someone at the range unloading ammo from a suitcase.
Your situation is a bit different, though. You're actually driving across the border. I can see accidentally leaving some range gear in a vehicle, and especially ammo if you tote it separately as you might with rifle or shotgun shooting. Your diligence is commendable, and wise considering you're crossing one of the two borders we have.
Ultimately, the only person I trust with a firearm is me. It sounds as if you're more charitable than that, but we agree there are a lot of people who really shouldn't have guns.
Seeing a great deal and spontaneously buying it is understandable, but why would they open up the box and allow ammo to roll around loose in the car?
Oh, well that's because sometimes it falls out of the box when you're loading. It's especially tricky if you're trying to load while driving, I can tell you! Ha ha.
Shitty paper boxes with heavy contents get beat up and broken pretty easily.
TLDR: Bring backpack to the range finish with a round left put it in the backpack. Forget to take it out. Go on vacation months later "Oh I should bring my backpack for hiking".
A negligent moron who should not be allowed near firearms then.
Correct.
Source: I travel a lot and often do this.
Really? Wow. OK.
You definitely might use the same backpack or tote to go out to the range as to go on a weekend trip. Drive to a hunting holiday with friends, then use the same bags for a trip to Disney with the kids. If you're going somewhere, you use the bags you have.
- Take backpack to the range.
- Finish, toss a few leftovers unspent rounds in bag.
- Nine months later go to Turks and Caicos (Bring backpack for hiking).
This typically isn't people putting it in luggage (like suitcases) but backpacks or other non-dedicated range bags.
Negligence pure and fucking simple
I assume hunting trips.
I assume absolute morons who should never be allowed anywhere near a firearm, it's fucking inexcusable.
If youβre driving to a multi-day camping/shooting event with friends youβll pack your suitcase. Sounds very plausible to me.
Itβs simple. I donβt need different bags for specific purposes. Thatβs wasteful. I just use the same bags for range time and travel. Obviously I couldnβt tell you how a whole ass gun gets left in there, but I could see a few accidental rounds or casings.
I got stopped going into Canada and their dog got a hit on my bag in the back of my truck. They accused my wife and I for over an hour of trying to bring weapons into Canada. Told them the dog has a good sniffer and that I frequently use that bag at the range, but that I was in fact just traveling to visit national parks and that if I was bringing in guns to their country it wouldnβt be through a major point of entry and would be in the thousands of miles of semi-unmonitored border.