Deanimator
Member
How does them asking about a CHL "protect" the country?CBP needs to determine people are who they say they are and what, if anything they are really bringing into this country. Thats how they are protecting this country.
How does them asking about a CHL "protect" the country?CBP needs to determine people are who they say they are and what, if anything they are really bringing into this country. Thats how they are protecting this country.
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Yeah, you can violate my rights... for a while. Then it gets expensive. After a certain point you get too expensive to employ.
Give them time... if they haven't already.When did the CBP start doing that?
Anything is literally POSSIBLE. What's LIKELY is entirely different.Would the fact you have a concealed carry permit mean, to the agent, that you are not a "person of interest" due to the process of obtaining a permit in most states?
I'm all for giving our border patrol the technological tools to see who is coming to our border. I want them to know if the guy in front of them has been popped for smuggling drugs before. I want them to know that the other guy has known terrorist associations. Etc.
However:
When you hassle someone just because you can, or with no cause other than to "see what comes up", that's called being a prick. Doing it and getting away with it because you have governmental protection makes you even more of a prick. Thinking you need to do this for your job means you're not very good at your job, which makes you an incompetent prick.
I've met both types, used to travel to Canada somewhat frequently as I have cousins there. If you have an issue or suspicion about someone, deal with it. Asking about inconsequential crap hoping for Suzy Homemaker to make an honest mistake or get a little nervous is not doing anything to protect this country. If you suspect illegal activity, address it and watch for reactions. If not, put your ego away and keep the line moving. Not all of us have time to waste on some low level functionary's self importance.
Maybe I've got a chip on my shoulder. It's due to reading responses here that seem to imply there are two classes of citizens, those that have a badge and gun and those that do not. Just because Uncle Sugar will back you up does not give one carte blanche to be a professional ass.
BSA1: Those that did very quickly learned how much aggravation and unpleasant I could make their life.
My standard answer to the US CBP is: "I'm a US Citizen with the right of return to the United States. May I proceed?"
Asking the question is not the point. Whether you can be compelled to answer is the question.Asking questions does not violate any of those laws, especially at a border.
I'll bet that Emma Hernandez and Margie Carranza USED to think that way...Personally, I've always been a fan of "if I'm not doing anything wrong I have nothing to fear."
Asking the question is not the point. Whether you can be compelled to answer is the question.
So, if you're near the border, do you have to tell them:
- your religion?
- your political affiliation?
- your sexual preference?
- for whom you voted in the last election?
Whether you have a concealed carry credential [but aren't carrying] has no MORE law enforcement relevance than any of the above.
Asking any of those questions at gunpoint, literal or figurative, has NO innocent interpretation.
Maybe, maybe not. If you are an Alabama resident with an Alabama pistol license you are somewhat protected from such information being made available. Alabama state law forbids pistol license information being released to anyone except during an ongoing criminal investigation (a fishing expedition doesn't count). Al. pistol licenses are issued by county sheriffs and are not connected with our driver's licenses. It would be difficult for CBP to obtain that information.CBP can probably find out if you have one if they know who you are.
It would be difficult for CBP to obtain that information.
True enough but I don't see CBP or anyone else expending the time and energy it would take to get that information without a reason other than just wanting to know.I guess your faith in this statement would depend on how far (legally or otherwise) you think the federal government's tentacles reach into other government agency's databases.
So, if you're near the border, do you have to tell them:
your religion?
your political affiliation?
your sexual preference?
for whom you voted in the last election?