Last week, we wrote about boating in Florida waters. (Click here to read) What if your boating adventures take you into the territorial waters of another state, international waters or to another country? Today we will discuss firearms and boating outside Florida waters.
Other States
It is important to realize that state laws differ, so it is wise to contact the law enforcement agency local to where you will be boating to get more information. Remember, if you are a U.S. LawShield member you can call U.S. LawShield and ask to speak with the independent program attorney in the state you will be traveling too, who can discuss the laws of that state with you.
International Waters
In international waters, the laws of the boat’s “Flag of Origin” govern. Therefore, Florida law will regulate a ship that is registered in Florida. The Coast Guard may board an individual’s vessel at any time and perform random searches. If this happens, a person should immediately inform officers that they are in possession of a firearm. The standard Coast Guard procedure is to document the serial number of any firearm the person has on board.
Foreign Ports
If you intend to dock in a foreign port, you should contact that country’s consulate in advance to find out what their laws say regarding the possession of firearms in your boat or vessel. Many countries have very strict firearms laws, with potentially severe consequences that come along with violating them. However, the U.S. Government maintains a list of Foreign Consulates with contact information that can be found by clicking here.
We are here to help!
The Expert Firearm Attorneys at The Firearm Firm are here to help. Further, our primary goal is to keep gun owners legal. If you have any firearm related questions, visit our website. There, you can search our knowledge base, or leave a question for us to answer. The Firearm Firm is a statewide Second Amendment and Self-Defense law firm.