Is it a bad time to take a day trip to Canada?

[Lord_Feldon]

@Little_Nemo

They asked me a whole series of questions.

“Do you have any guns in your car or on your person?”

“Any other firearms?”

“Any other weapons?”

“No knives? No tasers? No stun guns? No paintball guns? No pepper spray?”

I felt like saying “You didn’t ask me if I have a Venezuelan beaver mace.”

Yeah, I get the detailed weapons question every time, though usually just as one big question. It’s actually a little reassuring because it’s always the last part of the script.

[Spoons]

@Northern_Piper

There are regular news stories in border areas of yet another American charged with bringing firearms across the border without declaring them.

We’re only an hour or so north of a major border crossing (Coutts, AB and Sweetgrass, MT); and numerous times per year, Americans are charged with failing to declare a firearm at the border crossing. It makes the local news.

[UltraVires]

@Little_Nemo

I was reminded when I got up here that marijuana is now decriminalized in Vermont as well. So apparently all of the upstate New York users have been going to Burlington for their buys rather than Montreal and it hasn’t been an issue at the border.

As it turned out, I got asked more questions about whether I was bringing guns into Canada than I was asked about whether I was bringing marijuana into America.

My google-fu shows me that it is 373 miles from Buffalo to Burlington. It would be much easier to drive across the Peace Bridge to get your weed on.

But, I’m glad everything worked out for you.

[Balthisar]

@Northern_Piper

No, it depends on the type of firearm. Hunting rifles and shotguns, yes, they can get temporary permits.

Handguns, no. Lot more hoops to jump, and they may be told to leave it behind.

And I think you’re missing the “forget” part of the post. There is an attitude of some American travellers that they have a right to transport whatever they have, and they don’t have to report their weapons to Canadian Customs.

There are regular news stories in border areas of yet another American charged with bringing firearms across the border without declaring them.

I’m not sure why you’re saying “no” and negating everything I said, when you’re repeating all of the same information that I wrote. I’m not “forgetting” anything. I said “subject to Canadian law,” so “forgetting” doesn’t enter into it. If you follow Canadian law, then you are entitled to enter Canada with your firearms, including handguns.

[doreen]

@Balthisar

I’m not sure why you’re saying “no” and negating everything I said, when you’re repeating all of the same information that I wrote. I’m not “forgetting” anything. I said “subject to Canadian law,” so “forgetting” doesn’t enter into it. If you follow Canadian law, then you are entitled to enter Canada with your firearms, including handguns.

It’s not you that’s “forgetting”, it’s the Americans.
The original post said

Too many Yanks “forget” they’re still carrying their guns when crossing the border

Meaning they are** not** declaring them or getting a permit or paying a fee. After all, why would you declare something you don’t realize you’re carrying?

[Balthisar]

@doreen

It’s not you that’s “forgetting”, it’s the Americans.

Okay, got it. I guess I was reacting to “entitled”; certainly there’s no entitlement if you don’t follow the legal process.