American tourist facing possible 12-year prison sentence after ammo found in luggage in Turks and Caicos

Tim_McD said:
That a country enforces its own laws is what seems to shock ppl….we are too use to the multi-tiered justice system of the USA and think that it is the norm
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Really? Perhaps being a tourist with a different ethnicity, and sometimes language, than the natives just means that people used to being on the mid tier of the justice system find themselves as a lower run when in other countries.
 
Tim_McD said:
That a country enforces its own laws is what seems to shock ppl….we are too use to the multi-tiered justice system of the USA and think that it is the norm
Click to expand...

Many if not most other countries have a multi-layered justice systems, the difference is that US tourists are usually on the lowest end of the tier in those countries.
 
I travel a fair amount both domestic and internationally (building surveyor) and this sort of thing is my nightmare. I have a bunch of equipment to worry about dealing with, let alone a loose round somewhere in my carry on. A few years ago I started using dedicated bags for the range and for travel..after a quick look before heading into logan I found a loaded mag in my daily bag from the range the day before. I usually don’t even double check but glad I did that day. Lesson learned
 
Foreign countries are not unique in the concept of harsh mandatory sentences to send a message.

Florida has a 10/20/life law - use a gun in a felony, 10 years; discharge it 20; perforate someone, life. Mandatory and only the prosecution can waive the minimums.

There was a case where a woman was found guilty of assault as the result of firing a warning shot in a case where she claimed self defense. No one was hurt. She got the mandatory 20, and even the judge sentencing her stated he disagreed with the sentence but was legally bound to impose it. I think she may have eventually got some relief, but am not sure.
 
Tim_McD said:
The same folks on NES that would applaud a Tik-Tok influencer receiving a ten-stroke Singaporean caning for spitting gum on the sidewalk are clutching pearls that some dumb-ass is in trouble for getting caught with 4 rds in his carry on in a foreign country

That a country enforces its own laws is what seems to shock ppl….we are too use to the multi-tiered justice system of the USA and think that it is the norm
Click to expand...

Some are also not familiar with the facts that:

-Nearly every other country is a total authoritarian shithole WRT it's legal system.

-US common law concepts such as "innocent until proven guilty" or "malum prohibitum vs malum in se" / and concepts like "mens rea" are completely and totally invalid or at best, radically different in most other countries. Other countries don't even have a portion of the things we get automatically like 1A or 4A protections. There are tons of them where you can be arrested for literally saying the wrong thing" and you can have your shit rousted through "because they want to" and they're not legally held to concepts like "Probable Cause" or "Reasonable Suspicion".

-Most Americans are not aware of the level of government and police corruption in many of these countries. Especially once you start getting into the third world. (Although Ironically if the person bagged in this news article was in a shittier place he could probably discreetly flash 1000 bucks at a police supervisor and magically get released).
 
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Rob Boudrie said:
Foreign countries are not unique in the concept of harsh mandatory sentences to send a message.

Florida has a 10/20/life law - use a gun in a felony, 10 years; discharge it 20; perforate someone, life. Mandatory and only the prosecution can waive the minimums.

There was a case where a woman was found guilty of assault as the result of firing a warning shot in a case where she claimed self defense. No one was hurt. She got the mandatory 20, and even the judge sentencing her stated he disagreed with the sentence but was legally bound to impose it. I think she may have eventually got some relief, but am not sure.
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Sure the US has shit like that like the law you mentioned or the NJ/NYC "sullivan laws" where Plaxico gets an ND and does real jail for it.... the thing is, that's not rhe whole country; and in most cases; there's a lot of break off points due to the complexity and safeguards in our legal system. Many countries have none of that shit, and/or your fate is completely in the hands of one guy behind a bench.

Sometimes I don't even think it's about sending a message, it's largely based off the fact that there's a lack of ability by lawmakers and other power brokers thinking "how would i feel if i wss on the wrong side ir even just accused of it?" Or normalcy bias. EG- "I don't care that I wrote a heinously shitty gun lawr cuz i don't touch guns ever" etc. Then there's oftem just outright malice, entitlement abd generalized contempt for "citizens" or "subjects" They don't give a shit that some commoner is in jail for something dumb. Those in power know that by wielding that power the laws become meaningless in their case. Entitlement based off being drunk on power.
 
Rob Boudrie said:
Really? Perhaps being a tourist with a different ethnicity, and sometimes language, than the natives just means that people used to being on the mid tier of the justice system find themselves as a lower run when in other countries.
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Or that the entire system of justice in the country they are in is pure shit tier compared to even the worst in the US.
 
While reading about Marshfield rejecting the MBTA Communities Act I came across this.

www.nbcboston.com

US tourists face 12 years in prison for accidentally bringing ammo to Caribbean island: ‘An innocent mistake’

The U.S. State Department is warning travelers about strict new laws in Turks and Caicos Islands that carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 12 years for bringing guns or ammunition to the island.
www.nbcboston.com www.nbcboston.com

"We wish to remind all travelers that declaring a weapon in your luggage with an airline carrier does not grant permission to bring the weapon into TCI [Turks and Caicos Islands] and will result in your arrest.

"We strongly encourage you to carefully check your luggage for stray ammunition or forgotten weapons before departing for TCI. If you bring a firearm or ammunition into TCI, we will not be able to secure your release from custody. You are subject to TCI laws and must follow local law enforcement procedures," the alert continued.

Bryan Hagerich was detained by Turks and Caicos authorities after a family vacation in February when hunting ammunition was found in his luggage before he boarded a flight home. He said the ammunition was found in a bag he frequently used for weekend hunting trips.

"I've been here for almost 70 days now after posting bail. I've been out, right now just waiting to go to the hearing. That's where my case would be heard, then following that would be sentencing," Hagerich said.
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A friend in Louisiana used to use the same bag as a carry on and range bag.

He was caught with a handgun and ammunition at a checkpoint in Lake Charles Regional Airport while he was getting ready to fly to a conference where he was speaking the next day.
TSA called the sheriff's deputies assigned to the airport and he was escorted from the airport because the first phase of punishment is that you can't fly that day.
Once outside the deputy (whom he knew) called him a dumbass, gave him his gun and ammunition back, and said goodbye.
A few weeks later he got a demand letter from the TSA for something like $10,000.00 in civil penalties. He managed to negotiate that down and get a payment plan.

It would have been far cheaper if he had bought a separate carry on bag.
 
ProGun said:
Added to my boycott list. I'll spend my vacation dollars somewhere else.
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I suggest you consider carefully because you probably won't be leaving America, by that standard. If you think that a bunch of other countries won't go full retard on this then I have a nice bridge to sell you you might as well boycott them all.... which is fine.... :)
 
Buck F said:
Exactly. Just because there's spent brass on the outside of your car doesn't mean it's yours ;)
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Cop: "I just found empty casings on your window. Sir where was your car last parked? "
Guy: "Ehh, someplace in Brockton. "
Cop: (rolls his eyes slightly)
Cop: "My condolences.... ok, that explains it. I thought it was something like that. No worries. Drive safely. "

🤣
 
Soundwave said:
How did that not get caught on the way down? I had a random .45 bullet that ended up in the lining of a carry-on. Security at Logan just pulled me aside for a second and disposed of it.
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I accidentally flew to NJ with a 30-round mag once. Anyone wanna one-up that one? I'm only admitting this online because the statue of limitations is long-over on this one.
 
hunt4riches said:
I accidentally flew to NJ with a 30-round mag once. Anyone wanna one-up that one? I'm only admitting this online because the statue of limitations is long-over on this one.
Click to expand...
You win.

I flew recently for the first time in awhile...went through all my stuff twice to check for loose rounds and such. Amazingly, I was clean.
 
Don’t use your range bag as a carry-on ever this happens all the time. Also, if I look in any of your guises washer and dryer, I’m probably gonna find unlawfully stored ammo.
 

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