ok to take international visitors shooting?

[buenhec]

I have searched the forums high and low with no clear answer.

I want to know if it is OK to take international visitors (technically non residents) shooting at a range or the desert with my gun and my ammo.

Technically, I think they are considered prohibited persons but they are not purchasing or leaving with a handgun or ammunition. The law says they cannot possess. Although they will be in possession for a short while if that can even be called possession.

I know thousands of tourist go to gun ranges every year. Anyone knowledgeable in this subject?

[The Paper Pimp]

why wouldn't you be able to take them? impress them with our culture and your knowledge and respect for firearm safety, show them that guns really aren't as bad as people make them out to be then give us a range report with pictures!

[a1c]

It's not just purchasing, it's possession that's prohibited. You read it right.

Technically, it is illegal for them to be in possession.

But as you know, many tourists go shoot full auto firearms at the ranges in Vegas everyday.

So it really is up to you. If no LEOs are going to be around...

[Gryff]

It's not just purchasing, it's possession that's prohibited. You read it right.

Is it "possession" if you are there with them? I've taken a bunch of internationals from one of my contracts shooting at a local indoor range, and the range staff never had an issue with them being foreign nationals.

[tonyxcom]

I do it all the time. Just make sure they bring some ID or a passport as some ranges require it.

[Mssr. Eleganté]

If they have a hunting licence it's legal for them to go shooting. If they don't have a hunting licence then they fall under the same federal prohibition as convicted felons. It's almost never enforced, but the consequences could be really bad if it did get enforced.

[bigbearbear]

Depends on the range, some requires that each shooter presents his/her id and the counter will keep it until you leave, and they don't take foreign passports. One example would be Reed's Indoor Range.

Others will not check if you are a US citizen. Typically outdoor ones like Los Altos, they do not rent firearms either. So you can simply bring your own guns, ammo, sign in and give them your vehicle plate number, pay and you're good to go.

I am not 100% sure about this but I think Coyote Valley allow foreigners to rent shotguns and use their range. I've seen 1 group of Indians who looked like they're not locals (wearing wrong types of clothing for a sunny day....sneakers with dress pants etc) and another group of what looked like Europeans (accent and too dressed up, clothing style looked European) rent shotguns there.

[tonyxcom]

You guys are being silly. As long as you are with them it is perfectly fine for them to shoot your guns. Being a tourist does not make you a prohibited person. And you don't need a hunting license unless you are hunting.

Can they take your guns to the range and shoot them without you? No.
Can you take them to a range or BLM land to shoot with you? Yes.
Can they go to the range and shoot the ranges guns? Yes, we see this all the time in Vegas for example.

[jchen76@gmail.com]

I'd say at least half of the machine gun rentals out in Vegas are by foreign nationals.

[tonyxcom]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03/02/gun-control-tourism-hawaii-assault-weapons/1957653/

[edgerly779]

BS on the hunting license . Dumbest thing I have heard in a long time.

[dwtt]

If one of the OP's foreign friends are felons in their home countries, would it matter? I don't think the would be a problem since our laws are concerned with felony convictions in the US, not overseas of a non-US person.
OP, don't hang out with foreign criminals, and if these are your drug cartel friends, think twice about it.

[steve92407]

I have met several foreign nationals at oak tree gun club. They like to visit and shoot a few rounds. Kim Rhode is pretty popular with the international shooting community.

[David13]

I like the hunting license idea. And an orange hat, too.
They bring the tourists in by the bus load from Germany, England, Japan, I suppose anywhere to go out there and shoot the full autos in Las Vegas.
Tourist industry is one big money maker in the usa and there has to be some attraction for them here, other than what they can get in their own country. Other than Disneyland.
dc

[Gryff]

Depends on the range, some requires that each shooter presents his/her id and the counter will keep it until you leave, and they don't take foreign passports. One example would be Reed's Indoor Range.

Reeds is where I have taken all my international colleagues to shoot. Don't recall what ID they left at the counter. Perhaps a DL/ID card from their home country?

And you don't need a hunting license unless you are hunting.

I've heard that getting a hunting license helps expedite bringing a firearm into the country. Specifically, this is a trick used by foreigners coming into to shoot big USPSA/IDPA matches.