[tylernye]

Three years are you serious!!!! Read this article.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,351922,00.html

 

[rhinokrk]

He broke the law. Not sure what the problem with this case is supposed to be.

 

[tylernye]

Three years for a box of bullets. In my opinion thats a little harsh.

 

[rhinokrk]

Three years for a box of bullets. In my opinion thats a little harsh.

He transported them into a foreign country. I am not saying it is fair... But, He broke the law. What would he get for taking a single 9mm rnd into Mexico? Close to the same.

 

[Jeff Johnson]

Three years for a box of bullets. In my opinion thats a little harsh.

I agree, based on what I read in the article.
(I always have to wonder at the accuracy of any newspaper article)

If what was said in the article is accurate, then at most, I think that the pastor is guilty of poor judgment or ignorance. I wouldn't dream of putting a box of hunting cartridges in my luggage if I were traveling to Russia, not without a lot of research first.

 

[tylernye]

I am curious as to how he got out of the US with them. When I went to Turkey US customs searched us before we left then we got searched when we got there.

 

[Guest]

I question that smuggling ammo into Russia was part of Gods plan. It's odd to think that people make dumb decisions and figure the results must be part of Gods plan, unless you say, God planned on me being stupid. I could buy that argument for some.

That said, I do feel for the guy and hope maybe good sense will prevail in the end and they realize it was an accident. 3 years does seem harsh particularly when intent is considered. But, people in that part of the world don't always think the way we do and might take a hardline stance regardless of intent.

 

[tylernye]

I question that smuggling ammo into Russia was part of Gods plan. It's odd to think that people make dumb decisions and figure the results must be part of Gods plan, unless you say, God planned on me being stupid. I could buy that argument for some.

:ROFL: I agree.

 

[Car Knocker]

I ran across this response from Max Popenker, a Russian gun enthusiast, on another forum:

Well, the 3 years is an average term for illegal possession of live ammunition here. Add to this intentional smuggling, and you'll see that the pastor got not as much as he could in the worst case.

You know, Russian customs declaration form, which MUST be filled by any foreigner entering country, specifically lists firearms, ammunition and explosives as items that MUST be declared.

Pastor knew that he brought ammo with him, and he NOT declared the ammo on entry? He DID a felony the moment he submitted the improperly filled declaration at the border control, regardless of the number of cartridges. That's the fact.
Had he declared the ammo, the worst he could get would be the confiscation of the said box of ammo, since he got no Russian legal firearms permit. But he was stupid enough to try and fool government, and (any) government is not forgiving on such tricks.
So - he got what he got. Sorry for his family, but that's the Darwin lite in the act, in my humble opinion.

Max Popenker runs this very informative site: http://world.guns.ru/

 

[Guest]

thanks for the info, helps see this in some better perspective I guess. Maybe I don't feel as bad for him now, but more for his family who now have to deal w/ the consequences of his decision.

 

[mchlwise]

Why do people from the United States of America feel like things such as "due process" and prohibitions against "cruel and unusal punishment" and things like that, which we hold dear but take for granted, extend throughout the world? Are people really that ignorant?

People die trying to get into this country because of our freedoms, our sense of justice, and right and wrong. Things that simply don't exist in other countries.

If someone breaks the law in a foreign country, may God have mercy on them... because the foreign country sure won't.

And Russia... of all places... :shock: They've come a long way, but he should still consider himself lucky that he only got 3 years in a decent prison.

I guess it could have been worse. In Saudia Arabia and other muslim countries, they still cut of body parts. :roll:

 

[Guest]

I guess it could have been worse. In Saudia Arabia and other muslim countries, they still cut of body parts. :roll:

Do you get to choose the body part? if not, nevermind. I'll look for more conventional means to get rid of my gut.

I think it is more than obvious that many times people unwittingly attribute American ideals and sense of justice to other countries. Isn't that in part why we are hated internationally? Seems like an obvious question.