U.S. Pastor Given 3 Years in Prison for Bringing Rifle Shells Into Russia - The Firearms Forum

Don Buckbee · 04-21-2008, 05:26 AM

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,351922,00.html

U.S. Pastor Given 3 Years in Prison for Bringing Rifle Shells Into Russia

Monday, April 21, 2008

MOSCOW — A Moscow court on Monday sentenced a U.S. pastor to more than three years in prison for bringing hunting ammunition into Russia.

Philip Miles, from South Carolina, has been in custody since his arrest on Feb. 3. He was arrested several days after customs agents at a Moscow airport found a box of rifle shells in his luggage.

The court sentenced him to serve three years and two months in prison, with the sentence calculated from his detention date.

Miles has said he brought the ammunition for a friend and did not know bringing such ammunition into Russia was illegal.

Miles, dressed in a dark jacket and clerical collar, reacted calmly when the sentence was pronounced.

"I'm very disappointed. It's a strange sentence for one box of hunting bullets," he said.

Haligan · 04-21-2008, 11:18 AM

This type of thing is not as far away as it seams.
If Ted Kennedy has his way this would be in the U.S. as well

USMC-03 · 04-21-2008, 11:36 AM

It sounds to me like the Putin government is trying to send a message to their own people. My guess is that after the fervor dies down he will be quietly shown the door, shoved through and told never to come back.

Then again, I may be completely wrong. This is Russia after all...

magusjinx · 04-21-2008, 12:22 PM

Ya think The Right Reverand Jesse Jackson would go over there and try to get him out of prison?

Vladimir · 04-21-2008, 12:28 PM

This is just a snippet of the article. The man has been to Russia almost a dozen times and still brought illegal goods in. We would have a very similar punishment for a very similar crime- I'm not sure if smuggling requires criminal intent- but ignorance is no excuse for bringing illegal goods into a country.

Like most the world Russia has much more restricted gun laws. The man should have looked into customs and laws before trying to bring something like ammunition in.

I know few of us here would tolerate ignorance as an excuse for bringing something (or someone) illegal into this country.

EDIT:

Quote:

Originally Posted by USMC-03

It sounds to me like the Putin government is trying to send a message to their own people. My guess is that after the fervor dies down he will be quietly shown the door, shoved through and told never to come back.

Under Putin the condition of average Russians as improved significantly which explains his approval rating our politicians could only dream of (steady around 80%).

Marlin T · 04-21-2008, 09:44 PM

These rules are not new. Russia has some of the worlds strictest gun control laws.

04-21-2008, 05:26 AM	#1
Don Buckbee Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Grayling, MI Posts: 712	U.S. Pastor Given 3 Years in Prison for Bringing Rifle Shells Into Russia http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,351922,00.html U.S. Pastor Given 3 Years in Prison for Bringing Rifle Shells Into Russia Monday, April 21, 2008 MOSCOW — A Moscow court on Monday sentenced a U.S. pastor to more than three years in prison for bringing hunting ammunition into Russia. Philip Miles, from South Carolina, has been in custody since his arrest on Feb. 3. He was arrested several days after customs agents at a Moscow airport found a box of rifle shells in his luggage. The court sentenced him to serve three years and two months in prison, with the sentence calculated from his detention date. Miles has said he brought the ammunition for a friend and did not know bringing such ammunition into Russia was illegal. Miles, dressed in a dark jacket and clerical collar, reacted calmly when the sentence was pronounced. "I'm very disappointed. It's a strange sentence for one box of hunting bullets," he said. __________________ Don JPFO NRA Benefactor Member NSSA Life Member -->

04-21-2008, 11:18 AM	#2
Haligan Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: FEMA Region II Posts: 1,900	Re: U.S. Pastor Given 3 Years in Prison for Bringing Rifle Shells Into Russia This type of thing is not as far away as it seams. If Ted Kennedy has his way this would be in the U.S. as well __________________ "He who knows nothing is closer to the truth than he whose mind is filled with falshoods and errors." - Thomas Jefferson

04-21-2008, 11:36 AM	#3
USMC-03 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Peoples Republic of the Pacific Northwest Posts: 1,825	Re: U.S. Pastor Given 3 Years in Prison for Bringing Rifle Shells Into Russia It sounds to me like the Putin government is trying to send a message to their own people. My guess is that after the fervor dies down he will be quietly shown the door, shoved through and told never to come back. Then again, I may be completely wrong. This is Russia after all... __________________ Let not the rifles of good and free men be reforged into plowshares, but may they rest in a place of honor; ready, well oiled and God willing unused. For if the price of peace becomes licking the boots of tyrants, then "To Arms!" I say, and may the fortunes of war smile upon patriots. - Fortes Fortuna Javat -

04-21-2008, 12:22 PM	#4
magusjinx V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 70	Re: U.S. Pastor Given 3 Years in Prison for Bringing Rifle Shells Into Russia Ya think The Right Reverand Jesse Jackson would go over there and try to get him out of prison? __________________ "I have found a certain type calls himself a Liberal...Now I always thought I was a Liberal. I came up terribly surprised one time when I found out that I was a Right-Wing Conservative Extremist, when I listened to everybody's point of view that I ever met, and then decided how I should feel. But this so-called new Liberal group, Jesus, they never listen to your point of view..." - Marion Robert Morrison

04-21-2008, 09:44 PM	#6
Marlin T Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Mexico Posts: 7,857	Re: U.S. Pastor Given 3 Years in Prison for Bringing Rifle Shells Into Russia These rules are not new. Russia has some of the worlds strictest gun control laws. __________________ "But the simple truth--born of experience--is that tyranny thrives best where government need not fear the wrath of an armed people." Judge Alex Kozinski - United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit It is the duty of the patriot to protect his country from its government. - Thomas Paine Did you read todays GOOD shooting? >>>KEEPANDBEARARMS.COM <<<