What does the USA Customs and Border Protection consider a weapon?
- By
- Aparna Patel
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- 19 Jul, 2023
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To be clear, your hatchet is not a weapon. It could be used to inflict harm, but it is not designed as, nor do you intend to use it as, a weapon.
Therefore, answer the question properly. Answer “no” but mention that you do have items that could be used as a weapon, such as your hatchet.
Officer: Do you have a weapon?
ScottF: No, but I do have a hatchet for my camping trip.
If you are ever in doubt that you might have something that you need to declare, DECLARE, and let the Border Agents sort out what is or is not allowed.
You might get patted down a little more, but if you don’t declare, and they find something that is a weapon, you could be in serious trouble (charges and/or fines).
Just like @KateGregory said, if they verbally ask you something, just say “I have a hatchet in my camping supplies, does that count?” in a controlled tone of voice. CBP does not like it if they believe a person is being rude/sarcastic.
If you have a written declaration, check “yes” and let them sort it out. You cannot get in trouble for over-declaring
- Is there any other country than Germany with no speed limits?
- Traveling with medical equipment in checked baggage
It is never wrong to answer “I’m going camping, I have a hatchet” or “I’m going camping, I have a 5″ folding knife” rather than just “yes” or “no” when you are asked a question like that verbally, by a person at your car window.
If you are filling out a form, you can check Yes and write under that what it is. I do this all the time with the Food question, writing “Candy” if that’s what I have, for example. No border guard has ever complained. I think they actually like it because it saves them a step.
If you are using a computer terminal and have no opportunity for freeform answers, then in case of doubt, say yes, take the time hit, and let them establish that it’s not a problem. As a bonus, when your secondary inspection is complete, you can ask them what to check for that item next time.
Here’s one way to look at it: if you say Yes when No was the correct answer, you will spend perhaps one minute extra when someone says “what is this weapon you say you have” “a hatchet, I’m going camping” “oh dude, that’s not a weapon, do you have like a gun?” “no” “ok, have a nice day” or possibly an extra 20 minutes waiting in a line and getting asked 5 or 6 questions before they agree a hatchet isn’t a weapon. But if you say No when Yes was the correct answer, and for some reason they search you and find the hatchet, you could be denied entry — and possibly not just on this trip but for a year or more, since you “lied to a border office” or “lied on your form”. You could in theory be arrested for smuggling. These are unlikely, but they are so much worse than a little extra time at the border crossing saying Yes to something they don’t actually think is a weapon. There is no penalty for being over cautious, but there’s a huge one for trying to hide something.
Credit:stackoverflow.com‘