Preacherman
Member
From the Winnipeg Sun, Canada (http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/WinnipegSun/News/2005/06/22/1099308-sun.html):
Wed, June 22, 2005
American cries foul
Claims border harassment
By ROCHELLE SQUIRES, STAFF REPORTER
An American man says he was held captive, terrorized and interrogated for nine hours at a Canadian border for having nothing more than a few non-prohibited antique gun pieces in his car.
"I'm a strong man, but what they put me through, I felt suicide might be my only way out," said Barry Borum of Cullman, Ala., who was detained June 13 by customs officers at the Emerson border crossing while enroute to visit a friend in Manitou. "It breaks my heart to admit that.
"They were like a pack of dogs. They seized my car and tore it apart, ruined the air conditioner, pulled leather off the seats and left door panels loose," said Borum, noting the repair costs later added up to more than $1,500.
Borum was told he was facing arrest for smuggling prohibited weapons into Canada.
"I was scared to death," said the 51-year-old, who is a licensed gun manufacturer and weapons collector and inadvertently left the parts in his trunk.
"I forgot those pieces were even there, that's how insignificant they are. They're harmless and could be washing machine parts for all it mattered."
The pieces included a rubber shoulder pad, a securing pin, a partial bipod mount, a harmonica muzzle-brake, a magazine holder, gas tube and a rectangular steel channel with "for display only" engraved on it.
The parts were not restricted in either Canada or the United States and did not constitute a weapon, he said.
However, a spokeswoman for the Canada Border Services Agency said patrol officers have authority to detain and investigate anything suspicious.
"When people present themselves at the border, they must respond to the questions truthfully and declare all firearms and weapons," said agency spokeswoman Lisa White. "We have strict procedures and take border protection very seriously."
'HIGHLY TRAINED'
White said officers are "highly trained professionals who don't do anything unless they have a reason to believe there is contraband or prohibited goods."
Borum understands the need for border protection, but was disturbed by the rationale for his detention and the alleged abuse he endured.
He said one officer had a "MacGyver complex" by insisting a gun barrel could be made with the parts found in his car.
He claims he was threatened and denied his medication, even after insisting the pills were essential to his well-being.
Charges were not laid and Borum was released the following day. But in order to retrieve his seized car, he needed to pay an $1,125 fine.
His pieces were not returned to him, even though officers admitted the pieces were not restricted.
He is now making the 4,800 km round-trip in hopes of retrieving his antiques and plans to appeal the fine.
Wed, June 22, 2005
American cries foul
Claims border harassment
By ROCHELLE SQUIRES, STAFF REPORTER
An American man says he was held captive, terrorized and interrogated for nine hours at a Canadian border for having nothing more than a few non-prohibited antique gun pieces in his car.
"I'm a strong man, but what they put me through, I felt suicide might be my only way out," said Barry Borum of Cullman, Ala., who was detained June 13 by customs officers at the Emerson border crossing while enroute to visit a friend in Manitou. "It breaks my heart to admit that.
"They were like a pack of dogs. They seized my car and tore it apart, ruined the air conditioner, pulled leather off the seats and left door panels loose," said Borum, noting the repair costs later added up to more than $1,500.
Borum was told he was facing arrest for smuggling prohibited weapons into Canada.
"I was scared to death," said the 51-year-old, who is a licensed gun manufacturer and weapons collector and inadvertently left the parts in his trunk.
"I forgot those pieces were even there, that's how insignificant they are. They're harmless and could be washing machine parts for all it mattered."
The pieces included a rubber shoulder pad, a securing pin, a partial bipod mount, a harmonica muzzle-brake, a magazine holder, gas tube and a rectangular steel channel with "for display only" engraved on it.
The parts were not restricted in either Canada or the United States and did not constitute a weapon, he said.
However, a spokeswoman for the Canada Border Services Agency said patrol officers have authority to detain and investigate anything suspicious.
"When people present themselves at the border, they must respond to the questions truthfully and declare all firearms and weapons," said agency spokeswoman Lisa White. "We have strict procedures and take border protection very seriously."
'HIGHLY TRAINED'
White said officers are "highly trained professionals who don't do anything unless they have a reason to believe there is contraband or prohibited goods."
Borum understands the need for border protection, but was disturbed by the rationale for his detention and the alleged abuse he endured.
He said one officer had a "MacGyver complex" by insisting a gun barrel could be made with the parts found in his car.
He claims he was threatened and denied his medication, even after insisting the pills were essential to his well-being.
Charges were not laid and Borum was released the following day. But in order to retrieve his seized car, he needed to pay an $1,125 fine.
His pieces were not returned to him, even though officers admitted the pieces were not restricted.
He is now making the 4,800 km round-trip in hopes of retrieving his antiques and plans to appeal the fine.
