guns on a the boat of the 16 year old sailing around the world.

[SSBN506]

Take a look at the post from Sunday, October 5, 2008 at Zac's Blog


I am not disputing weather this is good or not as i don't really care about gun issues aether way. What i do find interesting is he has one. I was under the understanding this is very difficult to do when going from country to country. Am i mistaken on this, is it common to bring one? I personally don't have any guns and probably never will living in Canada in a province with little crime and no interest in them. But i can understand why some people would want them. Sailing through pirate infested waters might be one.

[Zanshin]

Normally the vessel's flag country laws apply on board and determine what may be carried. Handguns and handgun ammunition have a minimum age limit of 21 in the USA, so nominally he may not possess. I saw that entry in the blog as well and assumed that he (or his parents) put that in to ward off potential threats, regardless of whether he carried or not.

[WouldaShoulda]

Guns??

Don't leave home without them!!

[davidbaer]

Better to have it and not need it than the other way around.
I never leave the dock for more than a day sail without my Remington 12 gauge-loaded and secured.
Not much good at distance but the ker chunk of the slide, not to mention the effect at 10 yards, is probably enough to discourage all but the most determined bad guys

[windward54]

I don't carry one and never felt the need. And if one is heading to another country, you may find yourself in jail for a long time. I know Mexico has some of the toughest gun laws around. Get caught with guns or ammo, and you will be in prison. Not a pleasant thought.

[AjariBonten]

My only comment is that like em or not; we really shouldn't KNOW about his gun on board. It seems to me that is a piece of information that should have been kept quiet by Zac and his "crew"

[zz4gta]

Open carry is the best way to avoid getting robbed.
IMO, he'd be crazy to sail around the world without a firearm. Goes for anyone else too. I'd rather be in jail, then dead.

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by Zanshin

Handguns and handgun ammunition have a minimum age limit of 21 in the USA, so nominally he may not possess.

Not true. According to federal law he cannot BUY a handgun or handgun ammunition. But it is up to state law whether or not he can POSSESS one. Here in Colorado, for instance, my under-21 child cannot buy a gun for himself, but it is perfectly legal for me to buy one and give it to him as a gift.

[hellosailor]

Z-
"Normally the vessel's flag country laws apply on board and determine what may be carried. " On the high seas, yes, but that ends once you enter someone else's territorial waters. Guns, Playboy, bottle of rum...all problematic in some places.

"Handguns and handgun ammunition have a minimum age limit of 21 in the USA, so nominally he may not possess." Since when does the US have any federal permitting or carry laws for civilian handguns?? I thought that was another matter of state regulation, which is often way lower than 21.

To our Russian submariner: No, guns are not commonly carried by civilian sailors in international waters. They create many problems clearing in/out of countries run by repressive governments that get terriby upset at the mention of them, and lock people up if when they're upset about things like that.

[Zanshin]

denverd0n - oops, you are absolutely correct regarding possession being State and purchase/sale being Federal law. I suppose the question is what the Federal laws on possession (and carry) are, as those would be applicable on a US flagged vessel in international waters.