Crossing the Ontario / NY Border with handguns

[hercster]

Last year, I documented my handguns with the BTAF, got my forms 6NIA and crossed at Buffalo heading for Arizona. I had no difficultly whatever at the border and passed through after presenting my documentation.

I followed the same procedure this year and got refused entry at the same Buffalo crossing at the peace bridge. At first there didn't seem to be a problem. The first customs officer said that they would examine the guns, verify the serial numbers and I would be "on my way". I was asked to wait. After ten minutes, another officer came out, told me I could not enter through NY despite the approved ATF Form 6 and escorted me back to the Canadian entry point. He suggested (or one of them did, that I try Michigan or Maine).

When I stopped at the Canadian customs, they were baffled. In fact a man that appeared to be a senior, told me he had competed in NY recently and did so frequently. This is all new to me. Wendell from this group has been an excellent resource for me in the past but this experience doesn't match past excursions into NY I'm driving to a Michigan crossing in the morning. My guns will be in safes all the way to Texas anyway. Arrrrgggggggg.

 

[stavrosg]

Same thing happened here with a friend.

NY requires a handgun permit regardless of you're FORM6. UNLESS you have an invitation letter to an event.

My buddy went down the first time through NY for a 3 gun and it wasn't a problem. The next time we went, we were turned around (not technically refused entry), and they contacted a close Vermont border to tell them we were coming.

So anybody with a FORM 6, unless you have an invitation letter to an event, the hang gun permit requirement is in effect in NY.

 

[Canuck44]

I thought the invitation leter or hunting license was part of the exercise. The Form 6 in itself is not enough from my experience. That said, when crossing into Washington they have never spent a second looking at the Form 6 or the Invitation letter either.

Take Care

Bob

 

[hercster]

Thanks for the quick reply. The application of the law much be very inconsistent as I have know of many that have crossed into NY in the past. Today was a pain but assuming that I do OK crossing into Michigan I'll just come this way. Are you saying that you crossed in Vermont and then went into NY ? Because by the book, as said by the BG today, you would be charged with a felony if caught. Scary stuff.

 

[hercster]

Forms 6

I thought the invitation leter or hunting license was part of the exercise. The Form 6 in itself is not enough from my experience. That said, when crossing into Washington they have never spent a second looking at the Form 6 or the Invitation letter either.

Take Care

Bob

You must supply either a hunting license OR and invitation in order to get your 6NIA. The license can be any state. Many choose what I did which is North Dakota, available on line in 5 minutes for $17