CBSA captures Airsoft smuggler
 

Seems the border agency captured another dangerous Airsoft smuggler:(

http://www.chroniclejournal.com/cont...rged-smuggling

Shame to see a man of such high stature lose his job over toy guns. I've seen teachers get caught having inappropriate relations with students and they got off with just a warning. :(

What a shame.

No he lost his job over smuggling, the critical part of that article DID NOT DECLARE. Booze, cig or anything else you do not declare you are smuggling.

You can be criminally charged with anytime you smuggle. Airsoft makes it worse, but he made the choice. No sympathy here he is not 17 with a crummy job and teenaged brain cells, and basically figuring he has little to lose.

He is 51 and in a position of trust with a good job, he chose to break the law. Most likely to save money or make money, bad choice harsh consequence.

He broke the law got caught and now is paying for it.

Good.

Yup, I wouldn't feel so bad if he'd declared them, and got a slap on the wrist. But smuggling is smuggling is smuggling. I wonder if he knew they would be considered replica, or prohibited devices? Or if he thought they would be looked at as toys. The fact that he didn't declare them, makes me think he knew better. And everyone knows not to smuggle.

This, boys and girls, is why you don't try to smuggle airsoft guns across the border.

teachers should know better, let alone a principal...

Well not declaring booze and smokes is a time-honoured Canadian tradition, but yes with airsoft rifles definitely a no-no.

Good on CBSA. I wonder if the guy was an ASC user.

Less awesome is the article thinks we shoot pellets. I dunno about you guys, but I've never seen a pellet come out of one of my airsoft guns. But whatever, I'm nitpicking.

Dude should have known better.

He was not an ASC user but there was a front man on here selling guns in the classifieds and locally, who is now in prison.

"Seymour has been charged with eight counts of failure to declare prohibited weapons, and possession and smuggling of prohibited weapons."

Since when are we considered prohib?

Not all airguns are considered prohibited. They have to meet certain criteria. But some airsoft guns do fall into that category. I don't know exactly what he brought into the country either. It could just be the spin they put on it.

Charged with... is a far cry from convicted of.

as part of the prosecution they will have to prove that the airsoft guns he had are replicas and therefore prohibited devices.

If they look like real firearms but are not ( they shoot less than 430 fps ) then he may very well end up in prison if convicted ( charges carry 5 year mandatory sentence )

regardless he can kiss his $130 000 a year job good bye

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

So much for the comparison between knowledge and wisdom.

At the age of 51 in a position like that.. chances are it was smuggled for his kids or something of the sort.

Knowledge is when you know how to make a fire on your living room carpet with household chemicals and an a BBQ igniter.

Wisdom is when you realize that it would be stupid to do it.

Never confuse the two.

I don't think they'll. Even worry about charging him for the guns directly. Even if they are prohibited, smuggling is a felony. Now if he had been smuggling real firearms, or drugs I could see that adding some time.

Was my whole point. The gentleman was a school principal, supposedly an educated and knowledgeable person. But he lacked the wisdom to avoid a dangerous and stupid behavior.

My brother-in-law and sister-in-law, with 2 doctorates and a BSc between them thought they could time her cycle to the day, with calculations and everything. That way, they didn't need pesky and sometimes unreliable birth control.

She got pregnant very quickly.

Never confuse knowledge with wisdom.

Wear a condom.

Oh. My. God. :D

*Checks calender to make sure it isn't April*

Look above for this post. Apparently toadhound has some inside information.

I for one, like when airsoft is compared to paintball in the media.

The article says he was smuggling, and the items he was caught with were airsoft guns. Usually they try to 'doom and gloom' airsoft, and the smuggling would be a lesser point.

Nice to see a change.

Airsoft guns can be deemed as restricted items? Who knew?

This was regarding another case, involving a former ASC member from Barrie, Ontario.

They aren't restricted according to the CCC, but they are according to importation law. They are two different entities that work off each other, and the line between them can sometimes be blurred when it comes to interpretation (especially in the media.)

They are prohibited from importing.
They are NOT prohibited from ownership.

It should be noted that this story happened back in june.
But the god damn local news keeps airing the story everytime there is any update and now it is even posted on the cbc news which is international...

You're just annoyed because your importation methods are less than legal as well.

That's the media for you :P

Either way, I hope they ruin his life, he broke the law, no if, and or but about it. Just be glad the authorities are doing their job :P

Actually Brian they are very much related.

I'm just expressing sympathy for the man, I'm not condoning what he did. I've never had any issues importing airsoft myself by following the proper procedures and paying the fees, he clearly did not know how to legally self import. I also don't see how you're qualified to determine the legality of how I import my airsoft stuff. Yeah he's a principal and he should have known better than to break the law. I'm not condoning his actions but it's not like he's smuggling real guns and several pounds of cocaine that he's planning on selling to children.

It's not just airsoft either. I feel the same way about people who get prison time or get slapped with ridiculous fines for possessing small amounts marijuana. Yeah it's illegal but the punishment far outweigh the crime. You should think about that before you wish the worst for someone you don't even know.

+1

Ah, I wasn't aware that was his day profession, nor did I realize this "news" is not new. Thanks for the update.

For what it's worth, in my dealings with him, he was a good guy, as far as the airsoft community goes. He was a respected player and member of the community. I was never privy to his importation methods, and I was quite surprised when this news broke.

I have information from a very good source, that:

1) There has been no conviction (yet). Hence the Oct 12th court re-appearance date
2) Nobody is in prison
3) This user was a former ASC user (he no longer is)
4) There was no "front man" for anything.
5) This October 4th article is old news