machine guns

[Bezoar]

On the history channe, they did an episode on modern day pirates of the world. They had a short segment on a company , from usa i think, that made weapons systems for big rich peoples yachts.

The systems i can remember were a full auto 50 cal browning on a remote control turret with video camera targetting system for day and night use. It also came with an option for a grenade launcher as well as machine gun.

The show said nothing about them going out and finding american collectors with legal, registered 50 cal brownings that they would transfer to you for your fancy anti pirate system. So is this thing legal for americans?

 

[Zoogster]

Regardless it is illegal in most places you would take a yacht to begin with. Much of Central and South America where you might actualy have a use for such defense from well armed criminals has very strict gun laws. Unless you were going to stay so many miles off coast from all land you would be violating the law.

The US Coast Guard also has a different definition of territorial limits than the rest of the world and claims a very very large territory. If authorities from any nation decide to bust you, then where you actualy were when busted can be doctored give or take several miles. You still need legal ports to visit with such firepower, or to even go so close to land.

Keep in mind in much of the Western Hemisphere south of our borders you are guilty until proven innocent. How long do you want to spend in prison when military vessels declare they are boarding and you feel you are in the right because you are outside the technical territorial and internationaly recognized boundaries of thier nation?

They are still going to board you and your still going to go to jail for a long time. On the open ocean might is right. If you cannot take on the powerful naval vessels of third world nations your position is not right.

 

[bogie]

If you have enough money, anything is legal. Have your guy phone ahead to the local authorities, and get y'all your own Deputy Sheriff badges, or whatnot. They _know_ the mounted boomsticks will remain on the boat, and they also know why they are there... You're not assaulting the coastline, for chrissake. The leadership of those countries doesn't like pirates any more than the yacht people do.

 

[Geronimo45]

All you need is a CCW badge, and you're free to have any gun you want - within the waters of North America. You'll want the Junior G-Man badge if you want worldwide coverage - and a free pass through any airport screening line.

P.S. The Master of Ninjitsu medal/Mall Ninja Badge allow you the same freedom the Junior G-Man badge does - except that you must always have Mall Stationary with written orders allowing you to pass through whatever waterway/airport you are in to reach your destination. Your intinerary must be set in stone, however.
P.P.S. The Mall Ninja Badge does allow you to take nunchaku and shuriken on board a plane, no questions asked.

 

[Outlaws]

If I recall, while international waters don't have many laws, I was under the impression it is illegal to have weapons without them being registered with some world wide organization.

I saw a show on the History Channel about pirates and they were saying that there was a discussion over if it should be legal or not to have armed ships, because as it stands now, its not legal unless you go through the proper channels.

 

[Prince Yamato]

they were saying that there was a discussion over if it should be legal or not to have armed ships, because as it stands now, its not legal unless you go through the proper channels.

or is that proper cannals?

ba-dum-bum

 

[TexasRifleman]

People with that much money can afford to stay in international waters, where the laws are practically non-existent.

The famous arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi for example lived offshore on a many million dollar yacht, rarely setting foot inside any sovereign nation since he was a wanted man, or at least a marked man, in most of them.

Rocket launchers, surface to air missles, and machine gun turrets were mounted in clear view on his boat, all legal as long as he stayed in international waters and only visited countries that allowed that sort of thing for repairs, fuel, etc.

He always seemed to be able to buy an entry visa into some port here and there that didn't mind his toys.

It had a helicopter landing pad as well.

I beleive Donald Trump ended up with that yacht at some point and it was the yacht used in the Bond film "Never Say Never Again".

He finally convinced Monaco to allow him residence as long as he promised not to conduct his business there any longer.

 

[alucard0822]

I guess it depends on how rich you were. If you had sufficient loot to buy an island, and declare it an independent soverign nation, then your yacht becomes your navy, your gun collection becomes the national arsenal, and you as commander in chief can go on international peace keeping missions to diplomatically build international relations with other countries, but being a small nation you must rely on your navy to get you there. who knows you may even get some foreign aid, or defense subsidies from the US, you are an ally afterall.