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[ibbryn]

You yaps stop your bickering.

Here's story with pirates, guns, boats, water...all that stuff. And the good guy wins!


http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=130642

[CowboyShooter]

As Gnehzekul pointed out, firearms are not illegal in international waters; they may illegal in some foreign ports or waters.
As to enforcement (not necessarily guns) the US Coast Guard may board any US flagged vessel at any time in international waters and even in foreign waters with permission of the country that controls those waters.

Reminds me of a sailing trip many years back. Went with a friend that wanted to sail from the York River down to Norfolk (Chesapeake Bay) to go to a boat show. We got a late start and ended up sailing all night to get there. This was my first sailing adventure and it was a very small 22' Catalina (felt even smaller in the middle of the bay in the dark!) Anyway, in the wee hours of the morning we were lit up by a spotlight and had a boat full of Coasties show up next to us.

Anyway, they informed us that we were going to be boarded for an inspection and when they stepped on board, my friend informed them that he had a firearm on board (it was a .380 handgun). They asked where it was and he told them it was in the cabin. They said "fine, just leave it where it is." I found out that being out-manned and out-gunned brings out a lot of very quick "yes sir, no sir" answers. They inspected everything for about 20 minutes and then sent us on our way.

I wouldn't want to have to face pirates on the high seas when they obviously don't have any hesitation in instigating violence against unarmed sailors. I would also want to have an option to be armed and offer a hot lead welcoming committee.

Can't merchant vessels have armed security personnel and then lock the weapons in a safe when they enter a port that has firearm restrictions? I'll be the first to admit I know not of which I speak when it comes to ships and sailors.


Also, let me take the opportunity to say that I am very proud and grateful for ALL of the branches of our military that make it their business to stay out there on the pointy end of the spear protecting our freedom.

[Turbinator]

shieeeet id chip in.

Not just chip in, but would you volunteer to ride the high seas in search of pirates, too?

Turby

[CSACANNONEER]

All of this talk about pirates using small crafts and no one talking about the large scale pirate operations. First, a container ship is picked due to its location and cargo. Next, the solider of fortune type pirates use helicopters to board the ship. The crew disappears, The ship is renamed and sails into a prearranged port where the original cargo is off loaded and sold and a new load of containers is then loaded. The ship leaves port and is then queitly unloaded again and then sunk at sea. These profesional pirates get two full loads of merchandise from each ship they take over. This is obviously a multi million dollar take and is done by very well trained and informed pirates. Of course, the bulk of pirates are like the bulk of other criminals. They're just oppertunistic thugs that will attack anyone that they think they can get something from. This is why there are many private yachts that are very well armed.

[Turbinator]

This is obviously a multi million dollar take and is done by very well trained and informed pirates.

So are there any official organizations or government activities that are specifically put in place to target pirate activity on the high seas?

Turby

[CowboyShooter]

Not just chip in, but would you volunteer to ride the high seas in search of pirates, too?

Turby

I'm seeing something like a "cruise" ad in Guns and Ammo magazine...

"Set sail for 7 days and 6 nights of rollicking adventure on the high seas. BYO Guns & Ammo or rent from us. We will be cruising through some of the world's most dangerous waters and there will be no shortage of target practice."

[ViPER395]

"Set sail for 7 days and 6 nights of rollicking adventure on the high seas. BYO Guns & Ammo or rent from us. We will be cruising through some of the world's most dangerous waters and there will be no shortage of target practice."

OMG. I'm in. Would something like that be legal?

Ughhh. If one were to do something like that.

[Steve-O]

Steve Zissou armed his crew with Glocks

To quote Klaus, "Oh no, he's got ze crazy eyes!!!"

[radioactivelego]

My wife has family who are seamen in philippines.
First, whoever said guns are illegal in international waters is full of it.
Artillery is regulated(sort of) but not small arms.
The restrictions come from both the country of origin and the ports of call.
In the event they are sailing the Melaka straight(or the straight of Melacca) they are boned because that is in Indonesian waters and they don't allow any firearms on board.
Consequently that is by law imposed and the nature of narrows there with all the little islands a perfect place for piracy.
The sailors hate it.
All of her family speak ruefully of it.
None of them are real fond of Africa either.
There are ways to work it though.
If a ship were armed and the port country is restrictive they can radio the port ahead of time and surrender their arms to the local coastguard or navy or whatever port security exists.
Most shippers just refuse to deal with it.
They are pulling the old BS during training that if you are attacked to comply and the bad pirate will go away, you know, how they tell women here who are being raped to just relax do as told or they could get hurt.
These ship need a few rocket launchers and a couple of M2s. Then piracy would slow up a bit.

Is it even an issue when there are an indefinite amount of places you could conceal firearms on a vessel?

[UBFRAGD]

>>>>>Who here wants to chip in to buy a big shipping boat, arm it to the teeth, and go sailing for pirates?<<<<<<

If I tag along, can I act all piratey while we're hunting pirates?? Always wanted to dump some gunpowder in my rum.........Aye ye scurvy dogs, twenty lashes for ye, unless ye be zombie pirates, in which case meet Mr. 308.......

[VOD]

Ahh sweet, we'd be PIRATE HUNTERS! The awesomeness is overwhelming

[tattooed_freak]

thats funny I'm watching the show right now....

[Hispeed1]

firearms are not illegal in int waters that guy needs to be out on a ship so he can talk the pirates out of it.....

Heh-heh.

[Paratus et Vigilans]

If you want to go pirate hunting, you need to bring the right tools!

Maybe you could resurrect the concept behind the WW2 Nazi Kreigsmarine "Surface Raiders," which were designed to look like freighters and were false-flagged somewhere other than Germany, but when they got close to you, because you let your guard down, you discovered they were wolves in sheep's clothing, with souped up engines and armed to the teeth with hidden deck guns. They sank a fair number of unsuspecting Allied shipping during WW2.

See here: http://www.usmbooks.com/atlantis_kriegsmarine_book.html

Now, fix yourself up a modern commercial freighter like that, and head for pirate waters! There's your perfect anti-pirate ship!

[Ryan HBC]

Ahh sweet, we'd be PIRATE HUNTERS! The awesomeness is overwhelming

SERIOUSLY overwhelming. I propose three rules:

1. Everyone needs a cool sailor nick name or call sign.

2. While on shift, you must talk like a pirate over 50% of the time.

3. YAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRHG