US citizen jailed in India for possession of 22lr ammo in airport

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Or if you use the same bags for travel and range use. Clean them out thoroughly. I would think it's common sense, check EVERYTHING before you go to the airport.
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I still think it's foolish to use the same bags. It just makes no sense to do so. Bags are easy to have a round (spent casing or loaded) get into some nook or crevice- very easy to overlook. Humans are fallible, and I'd be highly surprised if someone could check the bag perfectly every time.

Look at it this way- how much would it cost to have to straighten this kind of thing out? At best you're looking at a fair amount of time before they say "OK, honest mistake," and send you on your way. You could miss your flight- that would potentially cost you a few hundred bucks for another ticket. If it's anything more than that- anything from a citation with a fine to something requiring actual court appearances and lawyer fees, that cost starts running rather higher- the sky's the limit there.

It isn't hard at all to get a set of cheap but serviceable luggage from Samsonite or American Tourister for under $200. A good set designed for frequent travelers can run closer to $1000 depending on the bags you buy.

The hassle and trouble from erring even once will pay for the cheap stuff. It could easily pay for the good stuff, and if a lawyer is involved, you could probably pick up a set of really nice luggage for a fraction of what you'll end up paying out.

All to save what? I doubt people are traveling with range bags that cost $100+. It doesn't make much sense to buy a pricey range bag and cheap out on the travel kit. So maybe you're saving fifty bucks?

Weigh the risk vs. the reward. It just doesn't wash. That few bucks you save repurposing that bag can cost you a couple orders of magnitude more money, all so one can travel with a bag that's poorly designed for the purpose. It makes no sense to me at all.
 
This is very risky. If the cops in a foreign country somehow "suggest" a bribe would be accepted you might get away with it. But if you just come out offering one they might take offense instead and then you are simply facing more charges and in some countries a beating as well.
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I have been to India 3 times, a bribe is expected by law enforcement for evertything. This is how they support there families and addictions, not of off there paycheck. When giving a bribe you dont say "here officer take this bribe" that would make the officer look like a crooked cop, you say "Here is a $200 donation for your temple" "thankyou" and be on your way. I have several encounters that i had to dish out $$$ for. None of them were encounters were i did something wrong. If you want paperwork processed in a timely manner you pay the fee, and give an undocumented donation. This is how India works.


Too late now, the cats out of the bag, its publicized and nobody can grab onto the get-out-of-India cash without being noticed.
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Its not to late, it just got more expensive. When a bribe is paid, it works up the ladder, everybody takes there share. This is why its worthless to complain or report an officer who mentions he wants $$$ to let you go, his superior gets a piece of the pie.

If you are an from India the bribes usually cost 20 rupee's for minor things, if you are an American or an NRI( Non resident Indian) your cost just went up, because they think you are filthy rich.
 
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It can happen...

I travel internationally A LOT. I spend usually 1/3 of the year out of the country and at times it can be more then that. To further complicate the issue lots of times I'm traveling to multiple countries by boat. Obviously I'm legal in the states and I'm legal onboard when it comes to weapons and the boat but the rules from place to place vary RADICALLY!

I was on a Caribbean island with the boat participating in a competition and was in a rush when I was cleaning out my travel bag vs. my bag that was to stay in our shipping container that has our spares and workshop.

Totally my failure but I had a full auto BCG in my bag. It had been in my bag for months from when I had brought a couple guns on the boat to FL. It was still in it's original hermetically sealed packaging. I was sitting in my seat on the plane when I was asked very politely to come with a stewardess. I was then handed off to airport security and finally the country's military (still in the airport). I was grilled briefly on what it was, why I had it etc. I've been through customs in 50+ countries and knew to be very careful how I answered everything. Truthful of course, but VERY careful. I ended up still making my flight, they kept the BCG. It could have gone very very differently. Thankfully they used common sense and looked at my stamps that showed how often I am in and out of that country and have never been in trouble
 
My range bags are just that range bags.
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This is a very good statement.

Separate your luggage from your shooting bags. Travelling by air with a range bag (soft) is just asking for trouble IMO, domestic or international.

People make mistakes, and its always better to minimize that possibility by eliminating these type of errors. I would think if you tried to use a range bag on a domestic flight with loose ammo left inside, the TSA will deal with you the same way.

Sorry to hear about the OP's friend. I hope it works out ok for him in the end. Many foreign countries do not take such things lightly.
 
My shooting backpack and plastic toolkit ammo box always remain in the shooting room.

Somehow an empty .22LR case was left in a pants pocket, but our TSA never identified it.
My job allows me the option to bid on working in foreign 'operations', but only want to work in the US. Foreign (east/west) flights and the loss of sleep etc shorten the lifespan and hurt the immune system.
 
If you feel so inclined as to send a word to your congress critters on behalf of a fellow shooter, it would be greatly appreciated by his friends and family.
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Okay, I am at a loss here. You want us to contact people you have insulted and ask them to intercede on behalf of your buddy who was jailed for breaking a law in a foreign land. There is no claim of injustice. This isn't a political prisoner situation.

Just what would you have Congress do? Call India and tell them that they should let the guy go because some people in America who enjoy the same hobby would like him to be given a pass on breaking known Indian laws?
 
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