On Thu, 23 Jun 2005 13:09:37 -0400, HarryKrause
wrote:

twoguns wrote:
I have never been out of the U.S. coastal waters on a boat yet. Several
of my friends and I are planning an extensive world cruise in two
years. All of us have had extensive training in the use of firearms of
all types and we all enjoy shooting sports as a hobby. We all like
trapshooting so we will have at least 6 shotguns plus a few thousand
rounds. Add in personal weapons and there will be an extensive arsenal
on board. I know some countries absolutely prohibit personal firearms
so we will have to take precautions in certain waters. Mexico is one of
the most prohibitive I understand. Since we don't want to have an
international incident what procedures are best in a situation like
this? I have suggested we build a couple of watertight capsules for the
weapons and ammunition. With GPS and the appropriate eqipment we could
drop them overboard when entering restricted areas and then retrieve
them later. Are there any better but legal options that could be
followed?
TIA,
Dennis

While I'm not sure where you are intending going you do mention "world
cruise" so you may be traveling to my neck of the woods, South East
Asia.

You should be aware that in some countries, Singapore and Malaysia,
for example, the penalty for possession of a firearm or ammunition is
death and before you get any idea that being a U.S. citizen would
protect you if you were to be caught you should be advised that both
Singapore and Malaysia have hung quite a number of foreigners from the
west.

Now, having said that, there are procedures for legally entering both
Singapore and Malaysia with firearms and/or ammunition. Basically you
would advise the Customs and/or Police either prior to entering port
or immediately upon entering port. The Customs/Police would store the
wepons/ammo for you while you were in port and would deliver the
wepons/ammo to your vessel upon your departing - all of this at your
cost.

In Thailand weapons, pistols for example, are classified by caliber or
type. A 9mm might be considered as self protection while a 12 MM (.45)
is considered as a "war weapon" as would an M-16 or AK-47. Posession
of war weapons will certainly get you a number of years in the Thai
prison system. Posession of a "self-defence" weapon will certainly get
you fined, possibly Imprisoned and possibly your boat would be seized.

As for dropping things overboard and logging a GPS position you should
be aware, as the Customs and Police of most countries are, that this
is something that folks who are attempting to deliver "recreational
drugs" sometimes try. They usually get caught.

I'm not trying to scare you or deter you in taking firearms with you
but you should be aware that a large number of countries in the world
are intent on keeping firearms out of the hands of their citizens and
therefore have draconian anti-gun laws that will be appled to anyone
entering the country.









Cheers,

Anon
)