i've crossed the canadian border so many times it's probably in 3 digits.......i have very little problems
with customs as i treat them in a professional manner and respond to their questions candidly and without
smart talk. i've gone to the effort of acquiring their PAL, possession and acquisition license for firearms in
order to save hassle at the border and in the field.
folks in the yukon have invariably been friendly and helpful with advice......guys like yukon 254.
i have experienced more crap at the us border where the regulations seem to change with
the shift change.
I read that you are insinuating that my experience with the Canadian Border Agents was somehow based on my attitude. I assure you that I was perfectly respectful with Sirs and Ma'ams, with no attitude. At the time I was a 20's-30's aged miitary male with nothing to hide and no preconceived notions.
One question that I got more than once was "where are your guns?" I replied "what guns?" "you're in the military, you have guns." I politely explained that the US military doesn't send firearms with their personnel on temporary duty, and would never let us carry them in personally owned vehicles. The response was "can you call someone who can verify your guns are not with you?"
I'm like WTF? Really? (in my head). This line of questioning happened more than 2 times in my trips accross the border.
I will also not defend the US CBP in the slightest. I've cleared customs to the US in excess of 50 times a year for 10 years as a crewmember on USAF strategic cargo aircraft. They are an even lower form of LEO than any foreign customs agent that I've ever come across. Routinely, I've had to explain, and show the regulations and laws to US agents, because I knew them better than they did... For example, I had one guy try to confiscate an entire plane load of Marines' MRE's while they were eating them.
I deal (to this day) with multiple agencies and higher ups spending millions of dollars on the services my company providws. I'm perfectly comfortable being polite, and non confrontational, even when dealing with people holding a negative grudge.