rangermonroe
Member
Every year I travel to New York to hunt deer with my father, and this year I brought my 7 year old son for his first time.
When I arrived in New York, I noticed that my rifle case had been damaged and the TSA seal (attached in Savannah, GA) had been removed. I asked the airline representative and a TSA agent to inspect my case with me in case of stolen or damaged guns. I had 2 rifles and a handgun which we inspected at the counter. I did this in front of the TSA agent
On December 1, 2004, I traveled to the Albany New York airport to return to my Home in Savannah, GA.
When I arrived at the airline counter, I informed the ticket agent that I had firearms to declare. He called a TSA agent to do the inspection. I opened the hard case for the agent, who told me he had to get his supervisor, because I had a handgun with my deer rifles. The handgun is a Ruger MK1 target pistol, 22 caliber.
The supervisor arrived and asked to see my ID and handgun permit, Which I provided. He asked me how long I had been in the state, because if it were less than 48 hours, he would let me pass. I believe that he was hinting that I should tell him what he needed to hear. I refused to lie to the man, so I dutifully informed him that I had been in the state for 10 days. He then told me that a Georgia permit was not valid in New York( "nothing more than a piece of paper here"), and he was calling the sheriff. After a few moments, I was arrested by the sheriff’s deputies, in front of my son.
The deputies were apologetic and professional, but arrested me nonetheless. They told me that they had no choice but to arrest me, because the TSA had turned me in. Has this been during a traffic stop, "we wouldn’t have done anything".
They confiscated my pistol, had me pay a $100 bond, and let me go in time to check my rifles and to catch my flight. I did not receive a receipt for my pistol.
I now have to return to New York to face charges, or pay a lawyer to represent me. I was told by the deputies, that I could plead guilty to "disorderly conduct" and pay a fine. I was also told I would have to give up my pistol, without compensation
I did not attempt to hide my pistol, I did not lie to them, and was oblivious to the fact that I was in violation of the law. I had been in the state for 10 days and had committed no illegal act. The pistol is mine and legally owned and possessed by me in Georgia.
I am now aware that I could face up to 7 years in prison for this offense, and face legal bills that I am hardly able to pay on a Firefighter’s salary, and will need to travel back to New York on December 29th of this year, to appear before a judge.
Or I can give up my pistol and plead guilty to something I didn’t do.
This kind of Hob’s choice is something with which I am unfamiliar and would greatly appreciate and insight or advice that you could offer.
When I arrived in New York, I noticed that my rifle case had been damaged and the TSA seal (attached in Savannah, GA) had been removed. I asked the airline representative and a TSA agent to inspect my case with me in case of stolen or damaged guns. I had 2 rifles and a handgun which we inspected at the counter. I did this in front of the TSA agent
On December 1, 2004, I traveled to the Albany New York airport to return to my Home in Savannah, GA.
When I arrived at the airline counter, I informed the ticket agent that I had firearms to declare. He called a TSA agent to do the inspection. I opened the hard case for the agent, who told me he had to get his supervisor, because I had a handgun with my deer rifles. The handgun is a Ruger MK1 target pistol, 22 caliber.
The supervisor arrived and asked to see my ID and handgun permit, Which I provided. He asked me how long I had been in the state, because if it were less than 48 hours, he would let me pass. I believe that he was hinting that I should tell him what he needed to hear. I refused to lie to the man, so I dutifully informed him that I had been in the state for 10 days. He then told me that a Georgia permit was not valid in New York( "nothing more than a piece of paper here"), and he was calling the sheriff. After a few moments, I was arrested by the sheriff’s deputies, in front of my son.
The deputies were apologetic and professional, but arrested me nonetheless. They told me that they had no choice but to arrest me, because the TSA had turned me in. Has this been during a traffic stop, "we wouldn’t have done anything".
They confiscated my pistol, had me pay a $100 bond, and let me go in time to check my rifles and to catch my flight. I did not receive a receipt for my pistol.
I now have to return to New York to face charges, or pay a lawyer to represent me. I was told by the deputies, that I could plead guilty to "disorderly conduct" and pay a fine. I was also told I would have to give up my pistol, without compensation
I did not attempt to hide my pistol, I did not lie to them, and was oblivious to the fact that I was in violation of the law. I had been in the state for 10 days and had committed no illegal act. The pistol is mine and legally owned and possessed by me in Georgia.
I am now aware that I could face up to 7 years in prison for this offense, and face legal bills that I am hardly able to pay on a Firefighter’s salary, and will need to travel back to New York on December 29th of this year, to appear before a judge.
Or I can give up my pistol and plead guilty to something I didn’t do.
This kind of Hob’s choice is something with which I am unfamiliar and would greatly appreciate and insight or advice that you could offer.
