[Scopes for M4]

Hello all;

I am looking for advice on a new scope for my M4. I am looking at the MTAC, VX-R and XT-R. I realize "to each is own", but wanted to ask your thoughts on these scopes and if you had any suggestions to add to the list.

Thanks very much!

3GunRookie

[Customs Experience: No One Has the Answer]

Really thoughtful advice and experiences. Thanks.

I was thinking of visiting the CBP here in San Diego and ask them to opine after showing them the Michigan State laws. Any thoughts on that approach?

I'll definitely stay away from NY in the future and try to go through Detroit instead.

Regards,

M.

[Customs Experience: No One Has the Answer]

Thanks all!! Many thanks actually. Better information in a day than going through the regular channels over the last six months!

I was thinking about the Detroit option and reviewed their gun laws which are much less restrictive than NY. I have also had Canadian friends that cross at Detroit with nothing but smiles. I don't want to be critical of the CBP but now that I am on the radar I hate to chance anything with them.

Thanks again.

[Customs Experience: No One Has the Answer]

Hello, I have a situation that may be of interest to you but

discovering the right answer is of great interest to me. Various state

and Fed government departments do not seem to know how to opine.

Please let me proceed to tell you.

I am a legal handgun owner and competitive shooter in San Diego. I was

planning to compete outside of the US and proactively contacted ATF to

confirm no additional documentation was required to re-enter the US

after the competition. ATF responded that all I would need to do is

prove ownership to the Customs Border Protection Officers (bill of

sale).

In July 2011, I flew to Buffalo, NY from California and then traveled

by car to Ontario, Canada for a shooting competition (I have all legal

permits for Canada also). Upon my return to the US border I declared

to the CBP Officer that I had my competition pistol in my luggage (in

locked, secured cases, etc) and was en route to the Buffalo airport

for a return flight to San Diego. I was immediately detained and told

I was breaking the state law by not having a New York handgun license.

I was told by CBP that I needed a license in "every" state I was going

to be traveling through with my firearm.

Agents thoroughly inspected the car and all of my luggage. As they

were doing this I was told I was going to be arrested by the NY State

Troopers, charged and have my handgun possessed and destroyed. As you

can imagine I was devastated by the entire affair and fearful for what

was ahead of me. Some of the border agents were polite and

professional while others commented that I had "no common sense", seem

to enjoy the threats and position of power they were entrusted with. I

was even told I should take up another sport.

Thankfully I had the ATF letter documenting my inquiry about

additional documentation and their response on the ownership point.

This averted the arrest but CBP told me I could not enter the US with

the gun and would have to return to Canada and leave it there, which I

proceeded to do. I should mention that the pistol was legally

purchased and registered in California. Since that time I have not

been able to return my competition handgun (a $1500 expense) to San

Diego for fear of detention, arrest and seizure.

Upon my return to San Diego I began to research this predicament. It

did not make sense to me that I would need a license for every state

to travel through, particularly in the case of NY where they only give

licenses to state residents thereby making it impossible for me to

compete in any NY state competitions. My research identified the

Firearm Owners' Protection Act (FOPA), Pub.L. 99-308, 100 Stat. 449,

enacted May 19, 1986, codified at 18 U.S.C. § 921. This seem to

contradict the CBP statement about having a license in every state a

gun owner would travel through. I was traveling from a jurisdiction

where I legally owned the handgun (California) to another jurisdiction

where I legally owned the handgun (Canada). I immediately contacted

ATF, NY State Troopers, Buffalo Police Firearm License Dept and the

State Attorney General's Office. To my surprise no one could give a

clear answer as to whether I was protected from prosecution by

referencing FOPA because I was traveling through NY from Canada. I was

in a legal "No Mans Land" and remain there today. I have traversed the

border a dozen times since July always triggering a swift and menacing

response; the car is surrounded by agents, a spike belt is thrown

under the car and I am escorted into secondary inspection (a delays of

hours) because of this initial incident. Some CBP Officers at the

border have not even heard of FOPA, so referencing it is of little

use. I have a file that is 1/4 inch thick of letters from ATF, NY

State Troopers, AG's Office, Buffalo Police, Congressman, etc, and

when I provide the package to the officers they simply stare at them.

My latest strategy was to have a gun store in Canada ship my pistol to a

store in California but after checking a dozen or so, I have not been able

to find one store that provides that service.

Any thoughts, references or direction pointing you may have will be

greatly appreciated.