Can I take a foreign visitor shooting?

[tahoetime]

Hello All,

I've read that non-immigrant aliens cannot possess firearms (unless they have hunting licenses or fall under certain other categories).

http://www.vrolyk.org/guns/alien-laws.html

If I want to take a foreign visitor or a foreign student that lives here shooting at a range in California, am I able to do that? I guess it comes down to what does 'possess' mean. If I am with him or her, and we each are shooting guns that I own, would this be legal?

Thanks!

[saigon1965]

You're good to go - At a range I frequent, they have bus loads of Japanese tourists coming in and shoot off a bunch of different stuff, very lucrative bus.

Just have to abide by the range rules - If you're out in the forest, well your rules.

[postal]

Yeah- what he said.

They're not in their "possession". They didnt even "borrow" it. They are using under direct supervision. You're in possession.

Watch out for them Japanese! We've taken a number of them... They love it, but be very carefull...

[ar15barrels]

I have taken a bunch of foreign visitors shooting.
Just last week, my boss said someone was coming from out of the country and wanted to shoot a gun.
I told them where to go...

[saigon1965]

What?

Watch out for them Japanese! They love it, but be very carefull...

[what2be]

What?

Let me tell you something....


If the japanese use the same caution about firearms as they do while scuba diving,


MAKE SURE NONE OF THE GUNS ARE LOADED!

[Soldier415]

We have a lot of foreign toudists come in to shoot at Bullseye. Mainly brits and micks, but they always have a blast.

[Bill_in_SD]

The problem is that Japan has TOYS that look and feel the same (including weight) as real guns.

So, put a real gun in their hand that they may be used to handling as a toy......

And understand that the only ones wanting to go shooting no doubt have the above mentioned toys. My wife is an example of the opposite - won't even touch the toys!

[Ironchef]

I took a Pakistani man, fresh from his arrival here after getting his long awaited visa, shooting. Scary, but fun (him using the gun was scary), and educational. THe good ROs at Concord's USI range don't exactly card people, even if they look like the terrrrrists on tv. Roheel never even shot a gun before since it's illegal to own one at his home (despite there being endless gun racks stocked with AKs in neighboring clan regions' street corners).

[Cali80]

May I suggest some training and familiarization, prior to taking your guest.

Saves time and is much safer than doing at the range.
It would also allow your guest to be more comfortable as well.

[Ironchef]

May I suggest some training and familiarization, prior to taking your guest.

Saves time and is much safer than doing at the range.
It would also allow your guest to be more comfortable as well.

If you're referring to me, I actually did sit down with him at my home and show him proper stances and grips he could choose from, how to squeeze properly, let the flip up happen, be surprised by the snap, how to make a sight picture, proper muzzle and trigger discipline, etc. It was just scary now and then as he would put the gun down with a live round (pointed down range still), or how he'd hit the dirt now and then from flinching. And for what it's worth, he did go through the safety training the ROs put new visitors through and got his "purple card."

I'm taking an attorney to the range in a week who is recently becoming a new gun owner (shotgun). I'm trying to get him and another attorney to become shooters and build the "gun culture" we're losing in this state. ALso trying to get him biased towards the S&W M&P9 I will be sharing with him!

[Cali80]

great job.

I see so many folks who barely know about guns, take their friends or girlfriend to the range.

You definitely are responsible. Great job, keep spreading the sport.

[Telperion]

It's a gray area. One thing that is clear is that if the loaning party has an FFL, then it is not a problem. A friend obtained a C&R FFL specifically for this purpose so he could take foreign students to the range.

[postal]

I'm half japanese. My mother used to have many japanese exchange students over the yrs, and relatives/friends from japan visit.

Most of the foreigners we've taken shooting were japanese. Yeah... watch em close.

[fairfaxjim]

Most of the foreigners we've taken shooting were japanese. Yeah... watch em close.

It ain't got nothin to do with them being Japense! Watch ALL new (& new or unknown to you shooters) REALLY close when they are shooting. That is why the safety and function breifing/class prior to going hot is so important. You can't give newbies enough safe direction and finger off the trigger drill. I also always stay directly behind a new student when they go hot so I can intercept a swinging muzzle until I am confident that they have the muzzle control concept down well.

To borrow from an old saying: "It's all fun and games until someone gets shot!"

That said, taking 1st timers shooting is really a blast - you get to share a truly life changing experince with someone.

[Ironchef]

That said, taking 1st timers shooting is really a blast - you get to share a truly life changing experince with someone.

tru.dat I've been at the births (and even delivered two) of my children but the first time shooting a gun was waaaay more exciting...ok, I lied. BUt seriously, you're right..it is a very moving experience. Controlling something so violent is awesome. Then perfecting that controls is almost as fun.

[tahoetime]

I actually have several foreign friends that want to go shooting. One already has his green card, some are in the process, and others will be here on tourist visas. I was quite encouraged by the positive response and interest that was expressed by them when I mentioned that I was going shooting the next day. I figure the more I can introduce to firearms, the better.

3 Germans and 1-2 Dane(s) that I took shooting in the past really loved it. One English woman was slightly negative.

[Moonclip]

Some ranges even cater to tourists, having staff that speaks Japanese or Spanish or Korean, ect. La gun clun and ranges in HI come to mind.

[big al]

yes they can. the range i go to just requires a valid passport and they're gtg.