Originally Posted by
chollie
Yes, I am being sarcastic, but I don't think our government should punish her while letting a FAM who left her weapon unattended in an airplane bathroom off with a wrist slap.
Apples and oranges. This is about a sovereign foreign power enforcing their laws in their country. What the U.S. government does about FAM has no connection to the woman who took a loaded gun to Taiwan.
Originally Posted by
chollie
If we have a zero tolerance policy for ordinary citizens who 'forget' they have a weapon with them, then we should be at least as unforgiving towards armed government employees who 'forget' where their weapon is while on duty.
Pretty sure I said that several pages back.
Originally Posted by
chollie
I have no idea what Taiwan will do. As I posted earlier, if I land in the US with something contraband (a banana, for example) and I immediately declare it, it will get confiscated but I won't be otherwise penalized. It isn't clear to me where Taiwan or the US draw the line and decide that somethings land you in jail, even if you declare them.
It isn't illegal to own a banana in the U.S, it's just illegal to import one without the appropriate inspection and permit. It is illegal for private citizens to have guns in Taiwan, which is probably why the woman has been detained while government officials (U.S. & Taiwan) negotiate about what to do with her. The last article I saw made it look like criminal charges are likely.
Originally Posted by
chollie
A similar example: sudafed is illegal in Japan. I didn't know that when I went there. If I landed with my ever-present sudafed tabs, realized they were illegal and immediately declared them, I don't know if Japan would arrest me or just treat me the same way they would have if I'd declared that I had some uneaten sashimi and fresh vegetables in my bag.
Again, apples and oranges. You can't point a sudafed at someone, pull the trigger and kill them. However if you had enough sudafed with you that you could be considered a "dealer" then there is a strong chance of prison time.