What can I bring home from the US?
- Thread starter madluk18
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- Ottawa Ontario
I gotta tell you fellas, I cross the border on a regular basis, and have been for years. I've never once encountered a Homeland Security ckeckstop. There are members here who are bound and determined on making the US sound like Nazi Germany... "let me see your papers"...guys, grow the hell up! Nobody cares what happened to your "buddy"...chances are nothing happened. Do you actually think the badges across the border give a rats arse about the box of ammo you bought @ Gander Mountain?...or the couple of 10/22 mags you picked up @ Dicks Sporting Goods?...really?......here's a news flash...they couldn't be bothered. Unless you're loading up the box of your Silverado with a cash of weapons and liquor at the local Native Reserve, the US side couldn't care less. I'm not saying it could never happen mind you, but if you're honest with US authorities,don't insult their intelligence... and don't run your mouth about what YOU think the law is,.....chances are you'll be just ducky. People are people...remember this.
Yes, they are. And some of them are officious prigs who will be delighted to catch you with a box of ammo you are legally prohibited from possessing, let alone exporting. It won't matter how many years you have been crossing the border regularly without encountering a Homeland Security checkstop or any other law enforcement. It will matter if you encounter them once and you are doing something illegal and they discover it and decide to enforce the law.
My late partner drove through the junction at the end of the road she lived on probably ten thousand times and never had a problem until the one time she made a mistake and met someone else who inflicted consequences upon her. That time she was killed so much that she is still dead. It's the consequences of one time that matter, not all the times you got away with it. If you can bear the loss, good for you, but no one is well-served by you encouraging them to take risks of consequences to them that may be more serious than you and I can judge.
- Location
- Ottawa Ontario
I'm not encouraging anyone....just refuse to buy into the paranoia of being stopped at random and crucified. I don't attract attention to myself when I'm Stateside...I don't speed, nor do I advertise that I'm a firearms owner with Glock and Browning stickers all over my truck. There is absolutely no reason for me to get stopped,checked or questioned. I'm a resident of Canada...born and raised...I respect and follow all the laws here even if I don't agree with them. I declare everything at the border when I enter back into Canada, and have absolutely no red flags associated with my passport or identification. I got pulled over once by a State Trooper in Upstate NY, and he just wanted to check out the old 5.0 Mustang I was driving. I'm sorry to hear about your partner, but I just don't encounter Checkpoints.
Its legal from Canadian Custom stand point to import up to 5000 rounds etc, just pay tax at the border; but if Americans catch you without export licence (which is impossible to obtain if you don't have US citizenship), your day of border crossing are over. And trust me I drove through several US check points they set up just before border crossings. They can also take your car away.
In regards to the ITAR regulations and bringing back goods. It reminds me of the US law that states you must not bring certain fruits into the US in particular ones that have not been grown there. It is protection for there citrus industry. I forget this sometimes and without fail they confiscate my apple or my orange, even the lime for my evening rum and coke. Even at the border crossing at Haines Alaska where your at least a thousand miles from the nearest US citrus grove they took my one and only "lime". I have absolutely no issue with any of this. But it does demonstrate it does not have to be a case or a truck load of limes or oranges or ammunition, it just has to be "one" and they can and will confiscate it if they so choose and you will bear what ever the consequences. In the case of a lime they just throw in a big barrel and your on your way. With a ITAR violation I don't think it would be that simple.
Especially if you pay for the ammo with Canadian credit card with a chip, that's calling for trouble, hahahahaahahaha.
Cash, and cash only (American currency).. Many places will ask for drivers licence I.D... Best to have an American do the purchasing.. It is also common for Canadian licence plates to be recorded from gun show parking lots... Don't park there if u plan on buying.
And have been for a very long time.
A retired USBP officer and close friend told us that most gun shop employees of stores in close proximity to the Border ( Washington State ) are encouraged to contact Homeland Security if they believe Canadians are purchasing items on the no-no list.
Yes, with F6NIA you bring your guns and ammo to the US. Then you shoot your guns and your ammo. Simple explanation.
- Location
- Ottawa Ontario
I think the answer is to exercise a little discretion. I know without crossborder shopping and weekend getaways in Upstate NY, some of the towns would wither away...because Canadian shoppers help keep their head above water. You start spooking the cow, and it will stop giving milk.
- Location
- Ottawa Ontario
Have any of you been to Tupper Lake lately?....it used to be one of the top tourist towns in the Adirondacks....its all but dead now because of the US Government and local PD spooking the Canadian visitors.
stubblejumper, why the hell are you asking these stupid questions here? Or are they suggestions how to cheat? You are pushing it. Guys can get in trouble. WTF...
I was asking those questions in response to the statements that were quoted in the post, where these questions were posted, to see if the poster actually had any idea, as to what the laws were. He obviously didn't know the answers, so he avoided answering.
Seeing as how you think those questions are stupid, do you know the answers?
From the ATF site.
Q: May nonimmigrant aliens legally in the United States purchase or possess firearms and ammunition while in the United States?
Nonimmigrant aliens generally are prohibited from possessing or receiving (purchasing) firearms and ammunition in the United States.
There are exceptions to this general prohibition. The exceptions are as follows:
1.nonimmigrant aliens who possess a valid (unexpired) hunting license or permit lawfully issued by a State in the United States;
2.nonimmigrant aliens entering the United States to participate in a competitive target shooting event or to display firearms at a sports or hunting trade show sponsored by a national, State, or local firearms trade organization devoted to the collection, competitive use or other sporting use of firearms;
3.certain diplomats, if the firearms are for official duties;
4.officials of foreign governments, if the firearms are for official duties, or distinguished foreign visitors so designated by the U.S. State Department;
5.foreign law enforcement officers of friendly foreign governments entering the United States on official law enforcement business; and
6.persons who have received a waiver from the prohibition from the U.S. Attorney General.
Significantly, even if a nonimmigrant alien falls within one of these exceptions, the nonimmigrant alien cannot purchase a firearm from a Federal firearms licensee (FFL) unless he or she (1) has an alien number or admission number from the Department of Homeland Security (formerly the Immigration and Naturalization Service) and (2) can provide the FFL with documentation showing that he or she has resided in a State within the United States for 90 consecutive days immediately prior to the firearms transaction.
[18 U.S.C. 922(g)(5)(b) and 922, 27 CFR 478.124, ATF Rul. 2004-1]
In other words, if you have a valid hunting license, or are participating in a competition, you may purchase ammunition in the USA for those uses. You just can't export any ammunition not specifically listed on your F6NIA, or any quantity exceeding what is listed on your F6NIA.
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- Location
- Ottawa Ontario
I like ducks!
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I0ve twicegot into trouble with the border. Once because there was a warrant ot for me, because some US guy withthe same name had a misdemenor. The other time the agent on entry thought I was evading Canadian laws he had wrong. He guessed I was lying to him on that basis, and felt I should be punished. Onegets theee jackasses at times. I am totaly respectable, always polite.
It isnt just people in Can who are worried. The DHS patrol cars and stops are showing up1 everywhere.
posting the exceptions as a means to cheat is not what the op asked, what has already been said is the correct answer, don't do it without the proper paperwork.
Homeland security holds all the cards in the USA, you can get denied entry for life I they don't like the way you look or just believe you lied to them even without proof you ever did.
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