Pleasant 4457 experience

[sgt_zim]

The only thing we have going for us is this CBP office is in a Class B/C regular office building. Don't actually have to go into the airport.

 

[deewayne2003]

I’m not sure what the problem is with just getting a new one every year. There is not restriction on how many you can get for a particular gun.

I’ve gotten different ones for the same gun in the same year. Traveling with two guns they put them both on the 4457. Later in the year I was traveling with the single gun and didn’t want any confusion why I was coming home with one gun instead of two so got another one.

The problem with getting a new one every year is that the closest CBP point for me is over an hour away and it took 3 months of calling once per week just to get an appointment and then deal with the CBP official that is a PRICK!

In order for this federal employee to bless me by doing his job I had to take the bolts out of my bolt action rifles and bring my .470 in broken down into 2 pieces and leave my knife, cellphone and bolts in the truck before being allowed to carry my cased guns into the exterior CBP office of a municipal airport.

Once through the door I was surprised by….

“HALT! What’s that in your front pocket?!”
With his hand on his gun

My wallet that has my ID in it, he waved me in begrudgingly.

I explained the 4457 form had to be signed in same year of travel…..

“Don’t give me that bullshit man, these forms are good forever!”

Was his rebuttal, I was also told that if he found out I made a color copy of the 4457 form he would have my reentry banned.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

My understanding is RSA requires you show your firearms license from your home country. We don’t have one in the US so we convinced them to consider the 4457 to be a firearms license.

They aren’t going to remove the requirement of seeing your license just because we don’t have one. So our choice is let them treat the 4457 as a license, or create a license here in the US, or don’t take guns to the RSA. I don’t think anyone would like the second two options.

It is probably only because of the economic impact of US hunters that they squint at our non-license and pretend it is one.

Of a country didn’t require a drivers license would we just say oh that I’m your country doesn’t require it so here are the keys to your rental car. Not likely.

I suspect US is the only "Western" nation that does not require federal licensing for firearms. In America it's assumed every baby is born with knowledge to properly operate a firearm. Here no one can possess a firearm without a license = passing the firearms exam and clean background check. Sure makes life easier, especially gun purchases. We can apply for federal temporary firearms export permit on line. Turnaround is fairly quick. Export permit is not required to take a rifle to US but other countries it's necessary.

 

[Hammergun]

The problem with getting a new one every year is that the closest CBP point for me is over an hour away and it took 3 months of calling once per week just to get an appointment and then deal with the CBP official that is a PRICK!

In order for this federal employee to bless me by doing his job I had to take the bolts out of my bolt action rifles and bring my .470 in broken down into 2 pieces and leave my knife, cellphone and bolts in the truck before being allowed to carry my cased guns into the exterior CBP office of a municipal airport.

Once through the door I was surprised by….

“HALT! What’s that in your front pocket?!”
With his hand on his gun

My wallet that has my ID in it, he waved me in begrudgingly.

I explained the 4457 form had to be signed in same year of travel…..

“Don’t give me that bullshit man, these forms are good forever!”

Was his rebuttal, I was also told that if he found out I made a color copy of the 4457 form he would have my reentry banned.

The problem we have is that we're at the mercy of guys like this to get the paperwork done. I was a public servant for over 30 years and wouldn't of dreamed of treating the public in a disrespectful manner. Some people do not have the temperament to work with the public and they get away with this type of behavior.