Travelers Advisory while visiting U.S.

[Tia]

https://www.tripsavvy.com/countries-warning-travelers-about-guns-in-us-4064865

 

After numerous incidents and attacks involving firearms, the debate about guns in the United States has continued to take a front-and-center position in the headlines. Politicians and citizens continue to discuss guns in America, and how public health concerns and social situations play into gun violence. 

This discussion has also spilled over to concerns affecting everyday travelers as well. The Transportation Security Administration reported finding a record-breaking number of firearms in 2017, most at security checkpoints.

Several countries are now warning travelers bound for the United States to be on their guard. Because gun violence is a noted problem in America, visitors are asked to be aware of their surroundings, be vigilant in their activities, or even "exercise extreme caution" when interacting with local law enforcement officers. 

Which countries' tourists are most on guard when traveling to the United States? These five nations have issued a travel advisory to those coming to America.

 

The Bahamas Warns Residents

Because they are separated by only 181 miles, Miami and the United States is one of the most popular destinations for residents of The Bahamas. But travelers from this small island nation are being warned about the dangers of gun violence when visiting their neighbor to the northwest. 

The population of The Bahamas is predominantly black, which has caused many from the country to pay close attention to recent events in the United States. The nation's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a note over "...of the recent tensions in some American cities over shootings of young black males by police officers." Those traveling from The Bahamas to the United States are warned to be on good behavior, and not to get involved in political protests. 

"We wish to advise all Bahamians traveling to the US but especially to the affected cities to exercise appropriate caution generally," the Foreign Ministry writes. "In particular young males are asked to exercise extreme caution in affected cities in their interactions with the police. Do not be confrontational and cooperate."

Canada's Security Concerns

Every year, over 20 million Canadians visit the United States by airplane, train, or over land. Despite a shared border, even their foreign ministry warns Canadian tourists about the dangers of gun violence while in the United States. 

While pickpocketing scams are most prevalent for Canadians, the Government of Canada also warns tourists about the dangers of gun violence as well. Travelers heading across the border for a mini-holiday are warned to take care during their trip, especially when visiting impoverished areas. 

Edited August 6, 2019 by TiaCyre

[carlos]

I can only speak from my personal experience. I have travelled many thousands of miles throughout the US in the last two years and I have never ever had the slightest problem with anyone carrying fireams. I have also spent a lot of time with friends there who are black, shopping, visiting museums and simply walking around, and nobody ever had a bad word for them or much less threaten them in any way, neither in California, nor in Texas, nor in Florida, nor in New York. Never a police agent stopped us and bothered us in any way.

 

In one occasion a policeman stopped us and gave us a speed fine, but his manners were perfectly correct. Later we went to a police precinct to find out how we could pay the fine before leaving for home, and all the police agents we spoke to were kind and helpful, even though we were foreigners.

 

So yes, it's undeniable that the situation worsens as we are deeper into the last days.  And yes it's undeniable that many people, uncluding some police agents, are racists or trigger happy. But even then I think these warnings are exaggerated or only apply to some very specific places. I also think many of those warnings are pushing a political agenda. They are trying to influence the public against American fireams laws or to present the country as a nation that is dangerous for black people. My opinion is that if you are decently dressed and behave like a normal person, whether you are black or white, there are not many chances that you will be shot by a police agent. Now if you are a troublemaker or dress or behave like one it's easy to get into trouble, no matter your race. Saying "If you are black don't visit the US: You will probably be shot by the police" is a huge lie and oversimplification.

 

Edited August 6, 2019 by carlos

[Shawnster]

2 hours ago, TiaCyre said:

Canada's Security Concerns

Every year, over 20 million Canadians visit the United States by airplane, train, or over land. Despite a shared border, even their foreign ministry warns Canadian tourists about the dangers of gun violence while in the United States. 

 

The article makes it sound like there are heightened or increased concerns that other nations like Canada are sharing with its citizens.  That does not appear to be the case with Canada 

 

I clicked this lunk.  It says take normal security precautions.   

 

Normal.  

 

 

2 hours ago, TiaCyre said:

The population of The Bahamas is predominantly black, which has caused many from the country to pay close attention to recent events in the United States. The nation's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a note over "...of the recent tensions in some American cities over shootings of young black males by police officers." Those traveling from The Bahamas to the United States are warned to be on good behavior, and not to get involved in political protests. 

 

I clicked this link.  It is from 2016.  It is 3 years old. 

 

 

[Qapla]

4 hours ago, TiaCyre said:

This discussion has also spilled over to concerns affecting everyday travelers as well. The Transportation Security Administration reported finding a record-breaking number of firearms in 2017, most at security checkpoints.

 

And comments like this is one of the reasons some foreigners think we cannot drive from one state to another freely. They think we have checkpoints like separate countries do at their borders ... and that just is not so. 

 

The only checkpoints are at the international borders ... so, if there was a "record-breaking number of firearms in 2017" at most checkpoints - that would mean that foreigners were trying to bring firearms into the country as they entered.

[RNGuzman]

 

2 hours ago, Qapla said:

 

And comments like this is one of the reasons some foreigners think we cannot drive from one state to another freely. They think we have checkpoints like separate countries do at their borders ... and that just is not so. 

 

The only checkpoints are at the international borders ... so, if there was a "record-breaking number of firearms in 2017" at most checkpoints - that would mean that foreigners were trying to bring firearms into the country as they entered.

The security checkpoints referred to are in all US airports, where the TSA has control.  Airplane passengers sometimes forget to remove their concealed carry weapons before entering the airport.

[Lance]

The only other security checkpoints I ran into were in Arizona and California on highways coming from Mexico.. I didn’t realize that I had to carry my passport at all times in the southern US.. They are looking for illegal aliens... They gave me a talking to for only having my Canadian drivers license as a form of international identification ..lesson learned.

[BenJepthah]

8 hours ago, TiaCyre said:

"We wish to advise all Bahamians traveling to the US but especially to the affected cities to exercise appropriate caution generally," the Foreign Ministry writes. "In particular young males are asked to exercise extreme caution in affected cities in their interactions with the police. Do not be confrontational and cooperate."

There has , ironically, been a travel advisory for us citizens visiting Nassau in the Bahamas for some time now. Nassau is widely considered to be the most dangerous city in the Caribbean. 

   That said , I have never feared to travel to any city on earth where Jehovah’s people are present and Ican make contact with a local congregation.  My wife and I have traveled to places most Americans won’t go because we’ve learned that people are just people but Jehovah’s people are just next level good.