Border Crisis / Government
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In an article from pipes | drums, we learn there is a crackdown at the US-Canadian border, but it's not of illegal entry into either country, the crackdown is on ivory.
We all know trafficking ivory is a bad idea and items that used to be made of ivory like piano keys and bagpipe mounts can be made with plastic. When in competition, some pipers take their vintage and heirloom instruments.
That requires notifying the right governmental agencies and filling out paperwork with exorbitant fees. It's $238 dollars one way to go from the US to Canada. Roundtrip costs a piper around $500 to compete.
In a huge example of hypocrisy, the US government confiscated the bagpipes of two returning Americans because the vintage instruments had ivory on them. The border/customs officers could have made the boys fill out more paperwork and eventually returned the instruments if those officers felt something was amiss, but now the word is that the bagpipes will never be returned.
Talk about lacking common sense.
The US government can allow anyone illegally to pass through our borders, give them aid and shelter, and call them erroneously refuges to gain UN support for the creation of another failed continental union, but far be it for some vintage bagpipes with some ivory to get through.
What is going on here?
What's next? Are officers going to confiscate pianos from the 1800's to the early1960's because the instruments have old ivory keys?
Let's get real. The instruments are vintage. The pipers should not have to fill out paperwork or pay fees to take their instruments out of the country.
Give these young men back their bagpipes and let's move onto more pressing matters like actual illegal activity on the border!
Source: pipes | drums
“No
piper I know of supports the use of ivory today for new bagpipes,” said
one piper who commented but did not wish his name to be used. “This
looks like some sort of effort by officials to seize as much
‘contraband’ as possible to fulfill their job quotas. It’s absolutely
idiotic.” - See more at:
http://www.pipesdrums.com/article/confiscated-two-vintage-bagpipes-seized-at-us-border/#sthash.Ap18Pw7j.dpuf
Confiscated!
Two vintage bagpipes seized at US border - See more at:
http://www.pipesdrums.com/article/confiscated-two-vintage-bagpipes-seized-at-us-border/#sthash.Ap18Pw7j.dpuf
Confiscated!
Two vintage bagpipes seized at US border - See more at:
http://www.pipesdrums.com/article/confiscated-two-vintage-bagpipes-seized-at-us-border/#sthash.Ap18Pw7j.dpuf
Confiscated!
Two vintage bagpipes seized at US border - See more at:
http://www.pipesdrums.com/article/confiscated-two-vintage-bagpipes-seized-at-us-border/#sthash.Ap18Pw7j.dpuf
Confiscated!
Two vintage bagpipes seized at US border - See more at:
http://www.pipesdrums.com/article/confiscated-two-vintage-bagpipes-seized-at-us-border/#sthash.Ap18Pw7j.dpuf
(Updated)
Confiscated! Two vintage bagpipes seized at US border - See more at:
http://www.pipesdrums.com/article/confiscated-two-vintage-bagpipes-seized-at-us-border/#sthash.Ap18Pw7j.dpuf
(Updated)
Confiscated! Two vintage bagpipes seized at US border - See more at:
http://www.pipesdrums.com/article/confiscated-two-vintage-bagpipes-seized-at-us-border/#sthash.Ap18Pw7j.dpuf
