USCG and CCW FWIW

[spartonboat1]

Nuf acronyms? I called the USCG about the issue of having flare guns on board. In my case, a 12ga and 25mm.

I reached the OOD (0fficer of the Day I assume) and told him I had been boarded last year, and it was '...very professional and went well'. So that set the tone of the call as pleasant.

I asked if I need a concealed weapon permit on the Great Lakes. Well, MI only has concealed handgun permits and not concealed weapons permits. The USCG officer indicated that if the flare guns were obviously in a flare gun set, such as in an Orion Can or case, with flares inside, then there was no issue. All by itself, esp. with one of those handgun round adapters, uh oh!

They do ask that you notify them if you have a weapon on board and they will separate you from the weapon, during the search and when they leave will separate the ammo from the weapon. This has been posted by other before.

I also went to a very good gun shop and discussed this. They pointed out that even if I had a MI permit, it would not be good in other states (and Canada I assume). The Canadians would probably seize. They do seize scanners at the border, or used to and have done so.

Others are more knowledgeable about this than me, but that is my report.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

In Canada, they ask if you have ANY weapons aboard. I have never been specifically asked about flare guns, but I have heard that they do not like them and that they will confiscate them if declared. I don't know if this is true (and I'd rather not find out).

Michigan CCW permits are honored in many other states. Go to www.USACarry.com to see which states honor each others permits.

 

[krush]

Do you consider a flare gun a weapon? I don't...especially the little plastic ones.

 

[SportFishCruising]

I see the red plastic flare guns for sale in the marina here in Ontario, Canada, I've never bought it, use handhelds because with two sons the guns might be viewed as 'toys'; I'm smart enuff to avoid that. Keep in mind though I don't have a HATT, just a bassboat.

 

[Bob Bradley]

Do you consider a flare gun a weapon? I don't...especially the little plastic ones.

It would seem to me that an inanimate object is not a weapon until it is used as one. My hammer is a tool which drives nails quite efficiently. If applied to a cranium, it becomes a weapon. My handgun is merely a weight in my pocket until I remove it and use it to defend myself and my family. Then it becomes a weapon. (And yea, I'd use my Eastwing if I couldn't get my hands on my Keltec.)