A very well known Zim PH was gifted a firearm in the US. He was detained by Customs. I do not know how long he was detained for, but it was long enough he had to retain an attorney. Missed his flight firearms confiscated. Then they went after the US citizen who gave him the firearm. I don’t know how that turned out, but you can believe all and all it became a very expensive experience.
Lon
Last I knew transactions between individuals in the US did not require background checks. Not sure if that's changed (I'm not a gun trader). There has been talk for a long time about stopping such "straw sales". Background check is the only thing that prevents me from purchasing a gun in the US. I am still a US citizen with constitutional right to bear arms blah blah, but because I'm a resident outside the US, licensed vendor cannot get a background check. But my brother can legally give me a gun without a background check. Or he could a few years ago. Ah, but I drove back across the border, I didn't fly home. If I flew back, I would probably require form 4457(?) and as I understand it, I have to be a resident for it to be approved (presumably a background check is required?). Several years ago just to make sure I was legit, I asked when crossing into the US to go bird hunting if I needed the form. Given my unusual status in both countries, the supervisor was unsure. She said I could go on through with the guns ok or wait till she called district HQ in Seattle for an answer. It was 3:00 a.m. and they just brewed a fresh pot of coffee so I stretched my legs and freshened up. Official answer was I didn't need anything from US side. However, I always travel with my Canadian possession license and paperwork proving guns originated in Canada (bill of sale or old long gun registry cards). But that's only to ensure I don't have to pay duty when I cross back into Canada. Any gun I acquire in the US (and I did acquire one from my brother five years ago), I declare when returning and pay customs duty (sales tax). Canada has no problem with me bringing a new gun into Canada as long as it's not a restricted weapon (AR or handgun) and I pay the tax man. They don't care if I didn't get a US background check. Why should they? As long as I have a valid Canadian possession license, they know I have a clean background in Canada. Good enough.
I wonder what exactly caused problems for the Zim PH. Did he not obtain export/import documents first? I would think if he had Zim import documents approved then US would be fine with exporting the gun. But maybe a licensed exporter is required (like is now required for exporting gun parts)? Was it a handgun? Handgun transactions can be, as I understand it, regulated differently in some local jurisdictions. Was the barrel too short? Full auto? Obviously the PH and American donor didn't do their homework first. I think it's probably doable. Just has to be done properly. Smuggling guns is a serious international offense these days. And it should be. Private individuals in foreign countries should not be providing arms for insurgents/terrorists/patriots. That should be done through diplomatic channels.
Recently, crossing with
gun parts has become very messy, even for me. I can still cross back and forth with
whole guns okay but importing/exporting parts,
any parts, is almost impossible. Crazy. There is a workaround ... but I won't elaborate.
