# Turks and Caicos Islands, luggage and bullets **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 4, 2024, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turks-and-caicos-islands-luggage-and-bullets/1005246 "2024-08-04T23:09:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turks-and-caicos-islands-luggage-and-bullets/1005246/41 "2024-08-05T11:30:09Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > What possible good could they gain by being assy about one bullet. Their country; their laws. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turks-and-caicos-islands-luggage-and-bullets/1005246/42 "2024-08-05T11:41:12Z")
What about my second amendment rights? The genius of the founding fathers? Does this mean nothing to you? ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turks-and-caicos-islands-luggage-and-bullets/1005246/43 "2024-08-05T13:23:24Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > They have instituted a zero-tolerance law, with actual teeth behind it I really wouldn’t describe this as zero tolerance. I’d say they have been pretty damn tolerant. If they’d been arrested for robbing a bank you wouldn’t say T&C has a zero tolerance law towards armed robbery. It would just be a perfectly normal regular armed robbery law just like almost every country has. Same here. Hell I’m sure there are plenty of countries where a foreigner being caught bringing in guns or ammunition wouldn’t just be considered evidence you are involved in a criminal enterprise, it would be considered evidence you are engaged in an attempt to overthrow the state, via a coup, insurgency, or even a flat out invasion. and treated as such. Foreigners entering their territory with arms is the kinda thing governments get really touchy about and tend to lose their sense of humor. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turks-and-caicos-islands-luggage-and-bullets/1005246/44 "2024-08-05T13:27:10Z")
At the Canadian border? Nope. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turks-and-caicos-islands-luggage-and-bullets/1005246/45 "2024-08-05T14:03:52Z")
I hope I didn’t need the sarcasm tag. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turks-and-caicos-islands-luggage-and-bullets/1005246/46 "2024-08-05T14:06:38Z")
You may be surprised how often that question comes up, in a non-sarcastic way, at the border and in Canadian courts dealing with the subsequent border episodes. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turks-and-caicos-islands-luggage-and-bullets/1005246/47 "2024-08-05T14:43:51Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > I really wouldn’t describe this as zero tolerance. I meant “zero tolerance” from the standpoint of “yes, even being in possession of a single bullet is a crime.” ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turks-and-caicos-islands-luggage-and-bullets/1005246/48 "2024-08-05T15:02:11Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > It always baffles me what people bring in and out of countries. My brother’s son lives in Colorado. Fifteen-ish years ago he flew to Pittsburgh for xmas eve dinner at our house. The TSA had issues with the cannabis in his carry on (gifts for relatives). He argued at length. They pointed out that regardless of Colorado law, it was illegal federally. They made him throw it away. I remember when it would have meant prison. Meanwhile, the bulk of what he brought was in a checked bag, and got through. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turks-and-caicos-islands-luggage-and-bullets/1005246/49 "2024-08-05T15:09:33Z")
What kind of over the top dumbfuck argues with TSA agents who are just doing their job? If I were the agent I would have sent him home for the day for holding up everyone else just trying to get somewhere. Weed generally isn’t their mandate though. They’ve never cared about my vape pen. If an agent really wanted it, so be it. Speaking of which, I’ve never had ammunition in my luggage but you better believe I went through everything and cleaned everything before traveling to SE Asia on business which I did many times. I know about their drug laws and they don’t fuck around. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turks-and-caicos-islands-luggage-and-bullets/1005246/50 "2024-08-05T15:12:42Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > You may be surprised how often that question comes up, in a non-sarcastic way, at the border and in Canadian courts dealing with the subsequent border episodes. No one who has read our delightful “Sovereign Citizens” thread in the Pit would be the least bit surprised. 😁 Those who think the US Constitution applies worldwide are exercising exactly the same legal sophistication as those who declare that driving a private automobile is “traveling”, not “driving” and therefore requires no plates, driver’s license, or insurance, and who have printed themselves their own “Moorish” passports. This is the kind of legal sophistication that tends to send them directly to jail, always apparently to their great surprise. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turks-and-caicos-islands-luggage-and-bullets/1005246/51 "2024-08-05T15:13:24Z")
I vaguely remember someone getting arrested overseas for a single cannabis seed found in their luggage. So, yes, some countries are stricter than others. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turks-and-caicos-islands-luggage-and-bullets/1005246/52 "2024-08-05T15:24:06Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > vaguely remember someone getting arrested overseas for a single cannabis seed found in their luggage. So, yes, some countries are stricter than others The United Arab Emirates is famous for having very [draconian drug laws](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/feb/20/news.radio) despite having a reputation of being a party destination for western tourists. But I suspect that would be a walk in the park compared to their reaction to a foreigner turning up with guns or ammunition. They would definitely assume there was some manner of terrorism or insurgency afoot and treat you accordingly. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turks-and-caicos-islands-luggage-and-bullets/1005246/53 "2024-08-05T15:26:39Z")
That shit happened all the time in Malaysia when I was frequently traveling there. In the 90s they executed an Australian dude who had a small bag of white powder. He said it was an herbal aphrodisiac. They said it was heroin. It took a few months and no amount of protest from the Australian government mattered. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turks-and-caicos-islands-luggage-and-bullets/1005246/54 "2024-08-05T15:27:45Z")
Long ago I started traveling with a small kit of various OTC meds for travel. Nothing too exciting: diphenhydramine, ibuprofen, dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, loratadine, loperamide, sennosides, bismuth subsalicylate, etc. Things you’ll want in a pinch while traveling. I had to start taking the pseudoephedrine out for international travel, which sucks because there’s nothing else on the market that actually works for sinus pressure. But better not to have it than have something happen for a half dozen tabs of extended release Sudafed. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turks-and-caicos-islands-luggage-and-bullets/1005246/55 "2024-08-05T15:37:18Z")
I was in college forty years ago and the school infirmary would freely hand out small amounts of pseudophedrine and, yes, it was awesomely effective. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turks-and-caicos-islands-luggage-and-bullets/1005246/56 "2024-08-05T17:03:49Z")
I realize guns and ammo are related. But either one is useless without the other. I realize my rights as an American end at the borders. I realize laws about bad things in your luggage are stupid and subject to laws of other countries. I SIMPLY want to know WHY it’s in the news, now? As opposed to, oh, I don’t know, the last 50 years, about stray bullets in luggage, from one island nation, Turks and Caicos. 5 or 6 times. Seems odd. I’ve learned they check on the way out to see if your bringing the wrong things out. I thought that would be more important to the country you’re taking it too. Like fruit or veg or food items. But, hey if a country doesn’t want you to take a bag of fruit out, fine. I learned it’s a new crack down on weapons coming to their borders, odd, weren’t these stray bullets leaving, not coming in? I’ve learned they’ve been stopping people at borders for a long time. Except it was never in the news unless it was drugs and maybe Paul McCartney try to bring weed into Japan(or whatever country that was). Or some spy with a suitcase full of state secrets. I’m beginning to believe this is some leaked rightwing story to gin up support and angry MAGA gun rights outrage. (My personal CT, sorry). 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turks-and-caicos-islands-luggage-and-bullets/1005246/57 "2024-08-05T17:07:36Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I SIMPLY want to know WHY it’s in the news, now? As opposed to, oh, I don’t know, the last 50 years, about stray bullets in luggage, from one island nation, Turks and Caicos. 5 or 6 times. Several of us have answered this for you already. They passed a new, stringent law at the end of 2022, in response to a sudden outbreak of gun violence on the islands. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turks-and-caicos-islands-luggage-and-bullets/1005246/58 "2024-08-05T17:07:45Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I SIMPLY want to know WHY it’s in the news, now? As opposed to, oh, I don’t know, the last 50 years, about stray bullets in luggage, from one island nation, Turks and Caicos. 5 or 6 times. This has been answered numerous times. They recently toughened their laws because of a rise in gang activity and decided to clamp down and make an example out of a few people. It seems outrageous and the media ran with it. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turks-and-caicos-islands-luggage-and-bullets/1005246/59 "2024-08-05T17:14:00Z")
Y’all are not understanding me Why is it in the news? Why IS it news? Repeatedly. Countries have been stopping, confiscating, arresting folks since commercial flight was common to foreign countries. Countries have had laws forever. But, 5 or 6 times, same country? Recently? Isn’t anyone else curious about why? Just drop it. It may not be answerable. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turks-and-caicos-islands-luggage-and-bullets/1005246/60 "2024-08-05T17:17:36Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Y’all are not understanding me I think we _are_ understanding you, Beck. Why NOW? Because of a new law, and (as I have hypothesized twice already in this thread) stepped-up screening due to this, and, quite possibly, a choice, on the part of their government to make some examples of a few people, to broadly get the point across. As the links that @Wolfpup shared earlier today discussed, the influx of guns (and, presumably, ammo) to T&C and other Caribbean islands in recent years, which precipitated the new law in the T&C, is largely coming from the U.S. _Why_ is it news? As @hajaro just replied to you: > [@hajario](#): > > It seems outrageous and the media ran with it. “OMG, they arrested me for **one bullet**? And now they’re saying I might be going to prison for twelve years??” Yup, that’s a news story that gets clicks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turks-and-caicos-islands-luggage-and-bullets/1005246.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turks-and-caicos-islands-luggage-and-bullets/1005246.md?page=4)