I am an active competitive shooter and a member of "Lillestrøm og Omegn Pistolklubb" - connected to "Norges Forbund for Praktisk Skyting" who is the Norwegian branch of the International Practical Shooting Confederation - IPSC. I have Norwegian gun permit contain among other a pistol: Para-Ordonance cal. 45 acp.
Sunday 13.dec.1998 I checked in at Continental CO1922Y between Phoenix Az. and Newark New Jersey with departure 9.00 in the morning. At check in, I notified the staff that I had a firearm packed in a gunwallet inside a Samsonite locked and secured briefcase, inside my suitcase. The gun was then checked as empty, and I signed the blue tag and placed this inside the briefcase, and again locked and secured this. The suitcase was then marked with a tag and brought out as belly load.
On my travels abroad, I never ever take with me live ammunition. I always purchase this at the final destination and competition area.
I asked if it was possible to tag the suitcase to my final destination, Oslo Norway, but this was rejected by the staff, because they did not have the knowledge of how to do it between a domestic flight and an international flight. In retrospect, this was a major error by the airline.
Upon arrival at Newark around 4.00 in the afternoon local time at Terminal A, I got my suitcase at baggage claim #3. From here I followed markings towards Monorail for Terminal B, where I had a connecting flight with SAS SK 908 directly to Oslo - Norway at 7.20 in the evening. I went up the escalators towards a sign directing me towards my destination after a security check. Since I was going to an International connection and my luggage had already been checked by security and cleared with the blue tag inside it. I did not feel it to be wrong to enter the security check/X-ray machine, where I stated upon arrival that I am going to Terminal B for a connecting International flight directly to Norway and I have a security checked firearm in my luggage. There came quite a lot of people behind me, so the staff landed my suitcase and my hand luggage on the X-ray belt rather quickly. I repeated to them that I have a firearm inside and that I was on my way to Terminal B to my connecting flight with Scandinavian Airlines System - SAS. The security staff did not take this into consideration and upon viewing my firearm with the X-ray machine called the police.
I explained to the police the circumstances, but they handcuffed me rather quickly in public, drove me to Port Authority and placed me in custody. Here the police further checked my belongings, asked about the purpose of the firearm. I answered that I had been in Phoenix Az. with my shooting buddy's at Rio Salada Sportsman's Club, purchased a few custom parts and got them fixed on my competition gun.
I was then informed about my rights, this form I signed, had mugshots taken and fingerprinted on four different forms, which I thereafter signed. After about 5 hours I was informed that they would confiscate my Samsonite with competition gun and competition equipment and that Cash Bail was set at $250. The rest of my belongings I got to keep. I was then driven, handcuffed, to the Terminal and an ATM machine where I could withdrawal money for the Cash Bail, and then brought back to custody. After this, things speeded up and I was released after about 6 hours. I received a warrant form, claiming a mandatory court appearance 21. Dec. 1998 at 09.00 am. I also received a receipt for the Cash Bail I had to pay to be released.
I never received a form stating contents of my belongings being confiscated by Port Authority Police, and the blue security tag given my luggage by Continental Airlines Security is still with the confiscated luggage. I was never informed nor given the possibility to call the Norwegian Embassy for assistance
A police officer then assisted me to the terminal and I got a flight to Oslo - Norway over Copenhagen - Denmark at midnight. During the flight back to Europe, I was a nervous wreck.
The story continues!!!!
The absolutely first thing I did, after returning home was to write down the whole thing. The next day I started a tour around public offices in Oslo, Norway. Firstly I went to the US Embassy, no luck and absolutely NO help whatsoever.
Then I went by my Travel Insurance agent in order to inform them about the situation. After this I went to the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Justice Department and my local Police Department, who issues gun permits. They got the written story and all were totally stunned.
The Norwegian Office for Foreign Affairs started immediately to contact the Royal Norwegian Consulate General in New York. They again made contact with Chief Municipal Prosecutor, City of Newark. The Consulate has told me all the way what has been happening with the case. First the Port Authority Police mixed my papers with another case. Then the Prosecutors Office have transferred the case between at least four different persons, and when the case was coming to the end as an Administrative Dismissal, they send away the papers claiming a Grand Jury Hearing???
Finally the case closed as an Administrative Dismissal by 23. Mars 1999. The Consulate told me that I would receive a letter from Criminal Records Section, New Jersey.
Days, weeks and months went by. No letter came. Finally in August I had to phone them and ask for the missing letter. There they told me that I already had received a letter from them? They said they had mailed the letter by Mars to my address in New Jersey.
I have never lived in New Jersey!!!
Finally I got the note claiming Administrative Dismissal.
Still there is the issue about the bail money and my belongings.
The Police made a blunder, but obviously have no intent of rectify the situation by returning the bail money and my Gun Case with competition equipment and my Para-Ordonance cal. 45 acp.
I must take a leave from my job. Pay the airline ticket and all other costs. All this in order to get back my belongings.
Why?
Update: 1999.10.18.