Dont declare firearms in the Bahamas, Ouch!

[RTB]

Originally Posted by jwcolby54

Holy cow, look at the number of firearm incidents.

Well, there is a lot going on in the Bahamas these days. Much to do involving Haitian migrants -

Bahamas Defence Force apprehends more illegal Haitian and Cuban immigrants at sea | Repeating Islands


http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/31/wo...ion-rules.html

Haitian Immigration Policy a Challenge for the Bahamas

A potential Haitian takeover

[Pelagic]

I find the interesting thing about gun control policy/law is that they will often be ignored if you find yourself transiting an area that has a high crime rate.

For example Micronesia.. Capital Pohnpei, visiting with a Super yacht.

They first insisted we remove our declared firearms while in Port , but when they found out we would make an extended stop for diving in the separate state of Chuuk Lagoon, they returned arms, did not bother to seal in gun safe and advised that we do not declare or relinquish to local police in Chuuk.

My point being that each area will adopt a flexible management of guns on yachts, depending on their assessment of risk.

Chuuk really was a wild west show and I would never return

[RainDog]

Originally Posted by RTB

Well, there is a lot going on in the Bahamas these days. Much to do involving Haitian migrants -

Nailed it. The "Haitian Problem" seems to be one of the two issues driving Bahamian policy changes now. The Nassau crime surge being the other.

[crazyoldboatguy]

I have been sailing for over 50 years and never have had need for a liferaft, PFD or anything more than a bandaid.

The number of boats that sink with the crew repairing to the life boats are quite small. You'll never need the life raft......until you need it.

A firearm is a tool. It is a dangerous tool. But so are chainsaws.

The idea that there are only a very small number of Americans who own firearms is belied by the fact that there are about 300 million firearms in private hands in the states. The vast majority of firearms deaths occur in certain urban areas where drug gangs operate, and in suicides. Lawful firearm owners in the states tend to be the most law abiding of citizens - conceal carry laws exist in every state, in one form or another. Wild west analogies don't match the low crime rates. The OK Corral gunfight references may well come from folks who watch too many Liam Neeson movies.

I am not sure whether or not I will bring a firearm when we cruise out of the country. I will certainly abide by local laws - as we have done in all our world travels. I will do as I have done all my adult life. I will avoid going to areas known to be problematic. I will seek to avoid any situations that seem prone to trouble. I will seek to leave if I find myself confronted with folks with bad intent. I will seek the assistance of law enforcement in all cases where I feel threatened. And, finally, I will use whatever means I have at my disposal to protect my family if all the aforementioned strategies fail - and ONLY if they fail.

[MBWhite]

Does anyone know if they had a deep fryer onboard?

At 82' you'd think she would, yet I see no mention of one in the news release.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by ChrisTinaBruce

Even in the USA, states that do not allow conceal and carry will find only criminals with guns. Kinda of the point for having on for protection.

True story...I moved to California from Texas and my neighbor freaked when she saw my rifles and shot guns in cases as I unloading the moving van. Over the coming weeks we became friends but she had the typical Liberal California view on gun ownership. Then the day the power across all of Southern California went out for about 5 hours due to a power plant issue she called to ask if I could come over and bring my guns as in the first few hours rumors about a terrorist attack.

I have lived in the US 37 years now. I still am baffled with the polarization in this country. I lean towards the media for pouring this hysteria down peoples throats.
There are simple definitions outlined in this thread that even a 5 year old "Liberal Californian" could fathom. Yet you still hold onto the American right to "bare arms" in another country...

[PortClydeMe]

Originally Posted by MBWhite

Does anyone know if they had a deep fryer onboard?

At 82' you'd think she would, yet I see no mention of one in the news release.

I see only a range and oven, and a rocking fridge/freezer. BBQ is topside.

Charter specs give no mention of on-board weaponry. Only US $45,000.00 per week for fun in the sun. A mere pittance when one wants to "bare" arms, legs, and midriff for a nice August tan.

Motor yacht MIA - Eagle 90 Raised Pilothouse

[Jon Eisberg]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

I find the interesting thing about gun control policy/law is that they will often be ignored if you find yourself transiting an area that has a high crime rate.

For example Micronesia.. Capital Pohnpei, visiting with a Super yacht.

They first insisted we remove our declared firearms while in Port , but when they found out we would make an extended stop for diving in the separate state of Chuuk Lagoon, they returned arms, did not bother to seal in gun safe and advised that we do not declare or relinquish to local police in Chuuk.

My point being that each area will adopt a flexible management of guns on yachts, depending on their assessment of risk.

Chuuk really was a wild west show and I would never return

I've had a similar experience, and it had nothing to do with "criminal activity"...

Everyone 'knows' bringing guns into Canada on a cruising boat is a No-No... Yet in Labrador, especially north of around Makkovik, pretty much everyone I encountered presumed I had a rifle, and was a bit surprised to learn I was headed further north without one ;-)





In two villages further north, the local RCMP officers came by the boat to pay a visit, and have a chat... More out of curiosity than anything else, as I was either the first or second yacht they had seen that season... In both cases, they expressed no interest whatsoever in 'checking me out', and I had the distinct impression that they simply assumed I might have a rifle for bear protection, and would have pretty much looked the other way, and been fine with that...

[CarinaPDX]

I think there is a misunderstanding here. Canada has no sense of humor about handguns and assault weapons - don't even think of bringing them. I knew one person who got in declaring a 12ga riot shotgun but I don't think the officer actually saw the weapon - others have had to send them back or go back. But what is clearly a hunting rifle is allowed, for exactly the reason described. They also prohibit pepper spray, but allow an approved large canister of bear spray (essentially the same thing).

Greg

[Tellie]

Originally Posted by RTB

No doubt, the RBDF already have their hands full without US vessels causing more problems - RBPF News Stories 2015

Ralph

Interesting post RTB. and yes declare your weapons, that's a no brainer.
But an objective as possible cursory glance at just the firearm arrests in the report above it seems, considering the population of Bahamian citizens to the amount of gun related arrests, that it is a false narrative given here that it is just the Americans that have the cowboy mentality. Seems like a lot of YeeHawing going on in the Bahamas as well.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Maybe Trump can extend the wall to the Bahamas.....to make it safe for Americans to carry guns :-)

[Jon Eisberg]

Originally Posted by CarinaPDX

I think there is a misunderstanding here. Canada has no sense of humor about handguns and assault weapons - don't even think of bringing them. I knew one person who got in declaring a 12ga riot shotgun but I don't think the officer actually saw the weapon - others have had to send them back or go back. But what is clearly a hunting rifle is allowed, for exactly the reason described. They also prohibit pepper spray, but allow an approved large canister of bear spray (essentially the same thing).

Greg

No misunderstanding, you are absolutely correct... My point, not especially well stated, was simply in agreement with what Pelagic was saying, that the standards within a particular country can vary from one locale to another...

One of the pleasures of visiting Canada by boat, is the general ease of clearing into the country... In my experience, it has never required anything more than an phone call to the CANPASS 800 number, and done...

However, I would guess that if making that call from St Peter's and declaring possession of a firearm aboard, I would likely be told to wait there until an agent could be sent over from North Sydney to 'complete' the clearing-in process... ;-) I might be wrong, but that's my guess...

Whereas the standards being applied by the authorities further north, where most of the local populace are walking around with guns all the time, appeared at least to me considerably more 'relaxed'...

[Dulcesuenos]

Originally Posted by Tellie

Interesting post RTB. and yes declare your weapons, that's a no brainer.
But an objective as possible cursory glance at just the firearm arrests in the report above it seems, considering the population of Bahamian citizens to the amount of gun related arrests, that it is a false narrative given here that it is just the Americans that have the cowboy mentality. Seems like a lot of YeeHawing going on in the Bahamas as well.

Good point, thankfully its mostly on one island. Whats interesting is if you read the online comments by Bahamians in response to gun related crimes they seem to keep blaming american culture and especially rap music for their problems. Maybe they are on to something. If we compare gun related violence. In the US before say 1990 when rap was in its infancy, to today where I dont even know what the hell they are saying or how they call it music, could show some disturbing results.
😝
Anyways it would be useful to know more of the details

Went from my LG-LS980 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

I find the interesting thing about gun control policy/law is that they will often be ignored if you find yourself transiting an area that has a high crime rate.

For example Micronesia.. Capital Pohnpei, visiting with a Super yacht.

They first insisted we remove our declared firearms while in Port , but when they found out we would make an extended stop for diving in the separate state of Chuuk Lagoon, they returned arms, did not bother to seal in gun safe and advised that we do not declare or relinquish to local police in Chuuk.

My point being that each area will adopt a flexible management of guns on yachts, depending on their assessment of risk.

Chuuk really was a wild west show and I would never return

I've found officials to be flexible too in such cirmcumstances, but only if you work with them. Pretty universally they take a dim view of foriegners blatantly violating their laws, as in the starting post.

[Group9]

Originally Posted by Dulcesuenos

Bahamaspress.com » Arrest of Foreign Vessel “Mia”

Coral Harbour Base, 17 August 2015 (RBDF): Her Majesty’s Bahamian Ship P-44 apprehended a foreign pleasure yacht for failing to declare the firearms it had on board at its first port of entry on Tuesday 11th August 2015.
While on patrol P-44 carried out a routine boarding of the United States registered 86-foot Eagle Yacht named, “Mia” in the area of Highbourne Cay in the Exumas. The vessel had ten persons on board
Also found aboard were two undeclared firearms–one Springfield Armoury .45 automatic colt pistol (ACP) with 105 rounds, and one Glock 19 9mm pistol with 74 rounds.
Defence Force Marines subsequently arrested the occupants and the vessel escorted to the capital where they were handed over to Bahamas Customs authority for further processing. As a result of the incident, the Master of the vessel was fined a sum of ten thousand dollars, also the weapons along with the ammunition was seized by the Customs Comptroller for breach of Customs Regulations

With the Bahamas making it so easy, and being so tolerant, of foreign yachtsman bring firearms into their waters, doing something like this is beyond stupid. No sympathy from me at all. Good job, Defense Force.

Like with so many things in life, it is the idiots who make things so hard for the rest of us.