jdemaris
12-19-2006 11:00:11
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Re: Border story in reply to in-too-deep, 12-18-2006 19:24:41
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I'll tell you a funny story - although I'm somewhat hesitant to repeat it - since it makes me look like an idiot. Actually, guess I was. I was working in northern Vermont (Northeast Kingdom) mid - 1970s. Housebuilding and tractor repair in the summer, lived and worked in a sugar-woods early spring. After fleeing New Jersey years before - I was amazed at the gun-laws in Vermont. In NJ, no rifle shooting was allowed - only shotguns, handguns very restricted, etc. Got to Vermont - I could buy a brand new pistol in the grocery store with only a driver's license. Also - I was doing a lot of girl chasing and beer drinking - just about always in La Belle province in Québec where the nearest good bar was. So, I crossed the border very often. Usual routine was - when coming from US to Canada - I'd stop short of the border - run over to the US border-building - and hand them my Ruger 357 Magnum DA handgun for safekeeping. Then, I'd go to Canada. When coming home - I'd cross back into the US, stop in and ask for my pistol back - no problem. Well - one night - I was pretty loaded in Vermont ( I was loaded, not the gun) Pistol under the seat in my truck. I drove to Sherbrooke, Québec - did some more drinking and got some Canadian French-girls ticked off at me - and I finally left for home. Yes - simply put - I was way too drunk to drive safely. Also, in the Québec bars, marijuana was smoked openly - and I suspose just breathing the air in the bar knocked me for a loop. I don't know if it was legal - but no one seemed to make any effort to hide it. So, I headed for home back in Albany,Vermont - barely keeping my eyes open. I faintly hear some noise in the background - and at some point I finally realize it's not the radio in my truck. I see lights behind me - many of them. Finally, I pulled over - it was a long line of border police chasing me - I think Canadian and US and I was a few miles into Vermont. I passed right through the check-point and border without even slowing down. To make things worse, I had an open bottle of beer in my hand, and the .357 magnum laying on the seat next to me,loaded. The border cops all had a big laugh over the deal - unloaded my gun, took my beer, and let me go - but one followed me home. No charges, no BS, etc. This is all true. Can you imagine if someone did it today? By the way - I don't drink anymore.
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