aphid

Can you explain how this works? I was under the impression that your US Courts have jurisdiction to adjudicate anything that comes before them, if they choose. Doesn't removing that fail some kind of constitutional sniff-test? NB: I'm no lawyer so please keep any response simple for me. Thanks John

Sent the AZblonde 3 tickets for last night's game between her beloved Yote's and my Canucks. Her and 2 chums, 5th row directly behind the PHX bench. Lots of good free food and free premium liquor featured prior to game-time for holders of the tix at those prices. Sent her a Canuck's jersey and insisted she wear it to the game. I watched on SportsNet television up here in exile. Was funny to see her one splash of road-white in a sea of home-red every time the television panned by following the play. And the Canuck's won. "Life is good, donkey." (Shrek)

It was.

Heresy! (You have to understand the general mindset that assumes everybody must want to)

Not all interactions are this extreme, or as severe as the one cited by GeorgiaDon above, so of course they are not "normal". I have collected numerous published news reports of similar border problems across the 49th parallel over the last 3 years, and you have a study showing the broader traveling foreign public are beginning to avoid your country based on their collective negative and often hostile experiences with some US Customs people. But perhaps you're correct and this collective impression might be just from impatient and impertinent foreigners. As far as filing lawsuits, thanks for the suggestion. Mine is now up to $70K in legal fees so far and the DOJ is still avoiding facing me in federal court thus far successfully arguing US Customs is immune to judicial review in my suit. John

Thanks for the anecdote. A skydiving friend of mine, a Canadian Forces SARtec, was headed to FL at the invitation of the 101st Airborne to attend an annual medical triage weekend seminar. All documents in order and traveling on a military passport. US Customs in pre-clearance refused to believe him or the documents from the 101st and detained him. When he pulled out his cell phone to contact his CO to advise he was missing his flight, Customs forcibly removed his cell phone, and placed him in wrist-restraints. Two hours later he was released to the custody of Canada Customs and the RCMP who promptly told the American agents to "get those f**king cuffs off our guy!" I have $0.50 wagered that incidents of these types of "Homeland Security" won't ever make the final cut to the broadcast of the 'Border Patrol' reality television program. John

With all due respect, it's not about inconvenience. It's not about delay. In the words of a foreigner above: "... how do know what it’s like to enter as a foreigner – in short it’s quite unpleasant." That was a polite way of describing the level of hostility we too often encounter when we deal with US Customs agents. Not every agent of course, but it is more prevalent now than ever before. I'm sorry this topic, presented solely to draw attention to a problem, seems to have generated defensiveness. John

On a skydiving note: an event a group of us Canadians have organized for 18 straight years at a popular US dropzone, which by conservative estimates dropped over $1.9M directly into the small local community and the drop zone coffers, is now on-track to move lock/stock/barrel to Empuriabrava, Spain beginning January 2014.

What on earth this press release had to do with airports or their food service baffles me. Thanks for the pleasant response. Sadly, that's pretty much the same hostile attitude we encounter at US Customs on far too many occasions. John

Your experiences may have differed, of course. I do hope though that this study won't be discounted so out-of-hand considering the millions the US is currently spending on marketing efforts abroad to encourage foreign visitors to see (and spend their money in) your country. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jnIKy9Libs Nice tune, by the way.

I have a vested interest in this topic, yes, but it is something we foreigners have been saying for quite a few years. But, what the hell, it's only money... Souce: http://www.ustravel.org/news/press-releases/startling-survey-results-reveal-entry-process-deters-millions-overseas-travelers From my personal perspective though, the answer is not in hiring an additional 1000 CBP agents, but getting the ones that are there do their jobs more efficiently and with less open hostility. John

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/16/fbi-data-demands-telecoms-firms Of course there will be an appeal.

Not necessary. Just have them all play each other in baseball. Once the earth is thus scorched, we can just move on in. Didya see the one Canuck who jerseyed the Mexican ballplayer, ala hockey-style? You can take the boy outa Canada, but you can't take Canuckia outa the kid!

I may be naive, but isn't dissing the revered memories of The Duke grounds for charges of Treason down your way? John

- Jonathan Logan licensed firearms owner (Baxter, ON) Arrested when some people claimed he was seen prowling with a rifle adjacent to a soccer field where children were playing when in reality he was no closer than 300 meters in a different field hunting groundhogs with the owner of the field's permission. Mr Logan was initially taken down on suspicion of operating a firearm illegally but when this trumped up charge was going nowhere, he was later charged with "careless storage of a firearm". And where was this carelessly stored firearm located? Initially the police searched Mr Logan's truck, and did find a firearm in it. But it was properly stored as the law requires. No the police found the firearm in question in Mr Logan's basement, and it was an inoperable dismantled firearm they found after they entered the home illegally all in front of Mr Logan's distraught wife and crying children. In 2006 Mr Logan was acquitted on all charges by a Provincial Court Judge who ruled the police take down and public strip search of the Baxter man was unconstitutional and illegal. Well at least the end of the story ended well. But Mr Logan and his family had to endure great emotional and financial legal costs in this ordeal for a crime he did not commit. http://www.lufa.ca/news/news_item.asp?NewsID=5747 - Lawrence Manzer licensed firearms owner and retired member of the Canadian Armed Forces as well as his neighbour Brian Fox (both from Burton, NB) were both arrested after they confronted three drunken teenagers who were vandalizing Mr Fox's property and disturbing the neighbourhood at 2:30 in the morning. Mr Fox was charged with assault for physically apprehending one of the drunken teens (his charges were dropped before he went to court) while Lawrence Menzer was charged with "Pointing a Firearm". Mr Menzer's case went to a court of law where the Judge ruled "Lawrence Menzer's Charter of Rights were violated by the RCMP" and the judge declared the case a mistrial. Another story that ends well, but only after Mr Menzer is subjected to great emotional and financial costs to fight his legal battles. Oh and there is no mention as to whether the police had a warrant or not when they arrested Mr Menser. If you want to nitpick I am not sure this case meets your requirements, but there it is. Another licensed firearms owner with a good record being abused by the system. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5xnTZEj17I http://christopherdiarmani.com/2979/police-state/lawrence-manzer-case/lawrence-manzer-case-ends-abruptly-in-a-mistrial/ Of course the highest profile case going on right now is that of Ian Thomson who also was recently acquitted. I don't believe Mr Thomson's case involved an illegal search, it was just another case where a licensed firearms owner was abused by the law. But as in Jonathan Logan's case there are cases where the police have conducted illegal searches. However they are often harder to find on the internet because you have to realize these are legal cases (some that are still before the courts) and in many case details are purposely omitted from the eyes of the internet when legal matters are still to be heard. But they are out there. Again, attempting to remove the emotional hyperbole... #1: Jonathon Login: http://www.ontariocourts.ca/search-canlii/ocj-en.htm Reading the the judges summation, it appears the incident started properly but went downhill after. He criticized them for weak police communication and investigative skills. Yes, they screwed the pooch and the man was exonerated. #2: Lawrence Manzer: http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/07/15/mistrial-declared-in-case-of-n-b-man-who-fended-off-intruders-with-shotgun/ "Judge Andrew LeMesurier declared the mistrial mid-way through the first day of the court hearing, saying Crown attorneys missed the deadline to prosecute the case by six weeks. It was an error that happened in October 2010, the judge noted, but wasn’t considered by the courts until Thursday." (Further) "The only reason for this mistrial is due to this technicality,” he said. 'It doesn’t vindicate, nor does it condemn his actions, so in that sense there is some limbo'." I don't think a mistrial constitutes proof that the defendant was abused. Or not. Or guilty or acquitted for that matter. #3: "Of course the highest profile case going on right now is that of Ian Thomson who also was recently acquitted." http://www.cfi-icaf.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=514:two-charges-dropped-against-ian-thomson-two-others-to-be-dealt-with-later&catid=165:st-catharines-standard&Itemid=31 "Two charges dropped against Ian Thomson, two others to be dealt with later." I don't think this constitutes an acquittal. Yet. Okay. Could you bring the rhetoric down just a notch please. I think most everybody is willing to listen. But it helps some of us to listen to your points if they're not couched in emotional language. Again, I have no dog in this fight. I do think the police screw up and over-reach occasionally. Absolutely. Is there evidence that supports the claim that legal gun-owners in Canada are being singled out for mistreatment? More negative encounters with police than any other segment of society? I find it difficult to believe that. But I am open to correction without hysteria. Do the courts seem to do a decent job of correcting police improprieties? There is some evidence above that they in fact do. Do some gun-owners feel pressured? Very likely. I don't know if it's generated from real influence, or if it's just an internal emotion within the perceived-persecuted. John PS: Anybody else heading out Monday for the Cabo Boogie? WHOOT WHOOT! J

Here is a link for you that should eliminate the hyperbole of soapbox posturing. You may judge for yourself regarding the interaction between Mr. Sansonse and the police. http://www.wrps.on.ca/sites/default/files/Publications/SansonseReport-Final.pdf

For the record, we can legally own many different hand-gun models and AR15-styled rifles in Canada. There is enough misinformation abroad about our ice-bound nation without us Canadians making it worse. John

Now that you've waded (sic) past the wealth of helpful advice offered already... Air Canada and Air Transat are two carriers I'm familiar with that offer direct-flights to Cuba from both Montreal and Toronto. They are often carrying about 30% US citizens traveling on US passports who commute north first so they can enjoy the inexpensive weather in Cuba. I have many Canadian & Euro friends who go annually, and there is a DZ operation in Varadero that is popular. They host at least one larger Boogie annually as well. Their on-line presence is very minimal, but here you go... http://cubairsports.itgo.com/varaderoskydiving/index.htm NB: you may bring back the usual quantities of items purchased duty-free. If you cross back from Canada into the USA, your Cuban cigars and rum will be confiscated. (There are some island-hoppers out of MX as well I believe that go to Cuba) I hope this helps. John

I have a retail pre-owned car lot. I face this same situation sometimes. I know its "just business" but I refuse to sell to those customers when they come up. People whining and bitching and trying to lowball on a 2001 car for $2000 or something. Generally I could just do what they want and still make money, but they piss me off so badly I just inflate my low even more to make it less likely they buy. Fuck em. I might not get Donald Trump rich that way, but I don't have to deal with pricks either. Amen! The number one reason I sold my businesses and don't do retail of any kind anymore. Some customers people just aren't worth the profit effort. Period. John

I'm no lawyer and I only gave it a brief scan, but am I correct that this US Federal Court gave some weight to laws of and rulings in foreign courts in rendering their decision? John

Sweden? You want to compare Sweden, a nation with a population of less than 10 million people to the USA with a population well into 320 million (possibly as high as 350 million thanks to all the illegals), half of whom pay no federal income tax? ROFLMAO ... thanks for the laugh. The culture of entitlements knows no limits. I guess listening to the counsel of my peers to use as an indication of tongue-in-cheek was a waste of my time after all. It's time for me to move back to face-time, methinks. Thank you. John

Sweden?

I don't think I have ever heard of any anti-gun rallies, meetings, fanatical groups in Atlantic Canada either. Must just be an Ontario... thing I guess. Well, they are the centre of the known universe, doncha know?

Hell yeah... Let corporate know. It is AMAZING how much a good company pays attention to their name brand. Really? Could you send a memo in regarding the folks-in-black at your US Customs northern border branches?

Rob, here are two real-world examples of how we approach things out my way. (BTW, I live in a burg that would be considered a city by many standards) A community in the (BC) Kootenays' has been plagued by an influx of deer. They've become very aggressive, physically challenging pedestrians and pets. After some debate, the city council authorized the culling of the pests. In consultation with BC Fish & Wildlife, they contracted a couple of local guys to shoot the wooly buggers in town. This town is quite an artists enclave attracting city-folks from Vancouver, Calgary, and even Toronto. There was some brief opposition to the plan. But nobody expressed any concern about errant bullets wounding innocent children or pets. They just didn't want Bambi to get killed. Once they came to terms that there were in fact just too many damned Bambi's, the cull got underway with zero media attention. Why? Because nobody cared. In my town, last autumn City Council passed a bylaw outlawing the possession of bear-spray and hunting bows inside the city limits. Apparently some of them thought bear-spray could be used offensively in a bank robbery, and arrows could be used to silently kill innocent pets. How did the residents of the city respond? We didn't. Everybody just ignores the really stupid bylaw, including the RCMP. I guess what I'm saying is... we (at least those of us out this way) tend to not get too worked up over silly shit. But if you're a freakin' Leaf's fan... all bets are OFF! John