Surfer, Marine Veteran needs help.

[NoSaltSuper]

Great news, looks like he's being freed.

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/12/21/ex-marine-to-be-released-from-mexican-jail-friday/

Stupid media, there's no such thing as an "ex-marine".

[surf4food]

It sucks about the prison conditions, but the easy solution was not to bring a gun into another country. 

I travel a lot and its not uncommon to see people (many from USA) doing stupid things because they think they are in a 3rd world country and laws and rules don't apply..... speeding, drugs & drinking while driving/in public places...etc.  Bringing guns into a country with out doing your own basic Google search on the regulations and laws has to top the stupid things to do list.  Mexico has its issues, but it still has laws in place and there are respectable & kind people who live there who don't need a bunch of asshole visitors coming in their homeland with total disregard of the law.

http://tijuana.usconsulate.gov/tijuana/warning.html

I hope he gets out of prison, but I wouldn't mind seeing him pay up a a hefty fine & being deported for being a dumb ass.

While that seems pretty clear in writing, why the hell did US Border agents let him through with the weapon?

Either way, it's pretty harsh treatment of a U.S. Citizen, especially a Marine.

Calling him an "asshole visitor" seems a bit presumptive and harsh. How do you know he didn't do research and find contradictory information? Can't assume he did nothing.

It’s pretty harsh treatment for any visitor whether or not he or she is a U.S. citizen and a military member/vet.  Military status and citizen ship is irrelevant.

[supthecreek]

Just saw his Mom  on TV, saying he is coming home today ;-)
Merry Christmas to the Hammer family abd friends

[mdsurf]

Good ending for a big mistake.  It could have been worse than the four months of hell he endured.  He should not have been taking a rifle to Costa Rica, there were many more obstacles in his way after Mexico.  He did register the gun and was stopped and arrested for registering the gun in Mexico, trying to do the right thing.  He would have had a better time in Costa for four months no doubt.

It is ending well and he is coming home.  Merry Christmas.

[H2Oman]

Glad that mess is over, for him and his family.  I still have trouble wrapping my head around the idea of someone wanting to bring a firearm into no less than 5 Central American counties and not look into the regulations prior.  Hopefully some good lessons were learned by others from all this.

I watched an interview with his buddy who was released after 3 days, and you can tell they are just ill informed kids.  He didn't grasp that the USA officers are not responsible for enforcing or knowing all the laws of other countries.  USA agents enforce USA law.  He was blaming the border agents, but you could put that same blame on friends and family who didn't have enough sense to prevent them from the mishap in the first place.

It will make for a great Christmas.

[southwesterly]

  He didn't look too happy in jail.
  Seems like he traded his DaKine leash for a metal one.

[Wood_Ogre]

I spent a year on a Seabee team working with the Marines. Our teams Corpsman most used comment was ( Stupid Fn Marines make the same Fn mistakes over and over. Only thing they know how to do is Hump and shoot guns !) I have to agree with him on that , but they are sure good to have around in a fire fight !

[hbsteve]

Just checked.  He was back on U.S. soil about 8:30 p.m. Texas time.