Importing Gear

[xKarbinex]

I saw a really good thread on what was okay and not okay to import from the states recently. I thought the info was pretty good, but then I saw that it was almost 2-3 years old. From what I am understanding, rules are changing quickly. So I need to know some things before I get my stuff taken away at the border.

Is it okay to import:

Plate carriers for airsoft (Of course, there is no ballistic plate in it.)?
Sights/scopes?
Helmets?
MOLLE pouches?

I know it seems a little wierd to ask but I don't want to get into any big trouble. I like vacationing in the states without security breathing down my back the whole time! thanks!

[The Saint]

They're all legal to import. You can find them in Canada, though, not sure why you want to import them.

[surebet]

Seems fine

[xKarbinex]

Cool, I have found some nice deals in the states. Just wanted to know if I could get the gear into canada.

[Lerch]

The only problem you'll face is that some US sellers don't like shipping outside their own country. If you get past that, CBSA won't be a problem for importing those items.

[Oborous]

Originally Posted by xKarbinex

I saw a really good thread on what was okay and not okay to import from the states recently. So I need to know some things before I get my stuff taken away at the border.

Is it okay to import:

Plate carriers for airsoft (Of course, there is no ballistic plate in it.)?
Sights/scopes?
Helmets?
MOLLE pouches?

I like vacationing in the states without security breathing down my back the whole time! thanks!

Hiya,

You're using the wrong word here, saying Import... rather than Export from the US. The US Department of State oversees ITAR, which deals with alot of the nifty stuff we want. The rules are arcane, myopic, and inconsistent; you will find dealers who list 'export restricted' on items because it's close to items that have been put on the control list, and the list changes... people have gotten caught that they've ordered item's when not ITAR restricted, and it changes while in the mail, then they get in trouble.

Most of the time, for your items listed (except for the sights/scopes) you're good. There are plate carriers that the manufacturers list as ITAR restricted, but it's more of a marketing scheme (Sort of like listing Berry Act compliant). Sights/scopes will get you into trouble if they have the 'for law enforcement/military only' on them.

I have ended up contacting manufacturers directly to see if their items are ITAR restricted, they've said yes, and then told me where to order them from that ignores those rules. Becareful if you order... it's not their butt in line for US attorney general, it's yours.

Without an exact list of what you're looking at buying, I can't comment further. The only thing on your list that is likely to need further research is your Scopes/sights. Your plate carrier -may-, as some manufacturers do it as marketing (Our stuff is so hot that the DoS has restricted it for export because it gives you that big of an advantage in combat); the border guys, if they look it up, aren't going to know that it's a marketing scheme... they're just going to say that the manufacturer states it's export restricted.

[Weaponstech09]

Scopes and sight can come Across no problems, I have orderd alote over the last 2 months and have gotten all of them but watch out for duty fees there a Bitch sometimes.

[Oborous]

Originally Posted by Weaponstech09

Scopes and sight can come Across no problems, I have orderd alote over the last 2 months and have gotten all of them but watch out for duty fees there a Bitch sometimes.

Weaponstech09,

With all due respect, you're incorrect.

http://lightfighter.net/eve/forums/a...1/m/5581054293
(yes, I know it's an outside link, but contains details of ITAR lawsuits)

A border agent cannot tell easily if it's a replica, and you don't want to become an arms smuggler....

[Outcast569]

Originally Posted by Oborous

Weaponstech09,

With all due respect, you're incorrect.

http://lightfighter.net/eve/forums/a...1/m/5581054293
(yes, I know it's an outside link, but contains details of ITAR lawsuits)

A border agent cannot tell easily if it's a replica, and you don't want to become an arms smuggler....

Hail to Oborous mightly leader of Bravo!!!
Had to say it havnt seen you on the forums since claybank (Its the other Jason from Juliet squad)

Annny ways... You can bring in pretty much any thing OTHER THEN:
-metal receivers
-Gernades that look real ( non transparent )
-some scopes but things from say G&G and others like that, that are toy companies usually are just glanced at. Its the higher end scopes usually that get a second look and possibly taken
-Mags with dummy rounds in them

Im sure I missed a few but more or less thats the chunk of it. If I missed anything I know there is a thread some where on this site that explains all of it in detail.

[Oborous]

Originally Posted by xKarbinex

I saw a really good thread on what was okay and not okay to import from the states recently. So I need to know some things before I get my stuff taken away at the border. I know it seems a little wierd to ask but I don't want to get into any big trouble. I like vacationing in the states without security breathing down my back the whole time! thanks!

Pulling specific lines from the Original post, Karbinex is -vacationing- in the states, this is not mail over the border. The border will consider that he is -exporting- these goods from the US, then Importing them to Canada. It does not matter where he is going, the fact remains that the US will consider that he is exporting these items.

Originally Posted by Outcast569

Annny ways... You can bring in pretty much any thing OTHER THEN:
-some scopes but things from say G&G and others like that, that are toy companies usually are just glanced at. Its the higher end scopes usually that get a second look and possibly taken

Im sure I missed a few but more or less thats the chunk of it. If I missed anything I know there is a thread some where on this site that explains all of it in detail.

I am trying to specifically deal with the original posters questions. Yes, there are consolidated threads on what is importable; however this is actually an -export- issue from the United States. Items will not just be taken, you will be returned to the US for heavy explaining. Odds are you'll be able to talk your way out of it, but this is not going to be a good time and you -will- be listed as a person of interest.



I deal with this on a professional basis. DoS are not nice people, ITAR is not something you want to mess with. I have completed DSP-83 end user license applications, I do know what the legal difference is between a foreign consignee and a foreign end user. Seriously, look up the form name in google, I'm trying to show that I am not BS'ing you here, I am trying to keep your ass out of jail.

Optics are considered Significant Military Equipment. A border agent -will- err on the side of caution, the bad guys in Astan and Iraq -have- been smuggling these items across the boarder into Canada and Mexico for trans-shipment. You do not want to mess with the DoS in this; read the lightfighter post, it -was- an airsofter who was involved, he -will- be going to prison. Yes, the lightfighter post was dealing with real Eotechs, but are you going to be able to prove that it's a crappy clone before they strip search you?

The point is to educate yourself personally, and to continue to be able to "vacationing in the states without security breathing down my back the whole time"