E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSView more videos at: http://nbcmiami.com.
Updated 10:30 p.m. ET: The South Florida Marine veteran who for months was detained at a Mexican prison for bringing an unloaded shotgun into the country has been freed, officials and his lawyer said late Friday.
Jon Hammar is seen in an undated photograph provided by his family.
The attorney for Jon Hammar tweeted Friday night that his client had been released from a detention center in Matamoros, Mexico. U.S. officials were planning to drive the 27-year-old Hammar across the border at Brownsville, Texas.
"He's out. Going home," wrote Eddie Varon Levy in a tweet.
With the judge’s ruling, Hammer was expected to be released after noon Friday, according to a statement from U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
Several members of Congress said earlier Friday that a judge had agreed to free Hammar.
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson's office said in a statement that according to a defense attorney, 27-year-old Jon Hammar was being held at the Matamoros prison on a gun charge, but at a hearing, it was determined he had no intent to commit a crime by taking the firearm to Mexico.
"No American should be in a Mexican jail for five months without being able to have his case in front of a judge," Nelson said Friday. "We're grateful; this is a good Christmas present."
With the judge’s ruling, Hammar was expected to be released after noon Friday, according to U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
NBCMiami.com: Family steps up lobby to get Hammar released
“Our Marine hero, our local hero, will be freed today from a Mexican prison,” Ros-Lehtinen said at a press conference. “He’s been there chained to his bed in terrible condition since August for a trumped-up gun charge that should have never been leveled against him.”
The Marine veteran’s mother notified congressional members of her son’s pending release early Friday. The news was confirmed by a defense lawyer, the State Department and the Mexican embassy, according to spokespeople for Nelson and Ros-Lehtinen.
His mother, Olivia Hammar, called Ros-Lehtinen’s office to say, “Hallelujah! Prayers work and hard work pays off,” Ros-Lehtinen said.
Friday, the U.S. Consulate was standing by to safely escort the former Marine to the United States. Instead of being taken on a plane, Hammar was to be driven across the Mexican border to Texas.
Ros-Lehtinen said the Hammar family is thankful for the community’s support. “He will be home for Christmas,” Ros-Lehtinen said. “The family has been so grateful.”
At his home in Palmetto Bay, Hammar's mother anxiously waited until she was assured he was safe and in the U.S.
Leave a Comment:
Thank God he was let go but that was one of the STUPIEST things I had ever heard. Trying to take a weapon like that into other countries. STUPID!!!!!
If you read carefully, he declared it with US authorities, they in turn told him to declare it to MEXICO, WHICH HE DID, AND WAS THEN ARRESTED....... READ YOU IDIOT !!!!!
Unless your Eric Holder then it is okay!
perhaps your reading comprehension is the one that should be questioned--Nowhere in This Story is anything you stated mentioned. Fact--He entered a foriegn country with a firearm. Fact--he was arrested. Why is it that Gringo is always smarter than the local police?
He's a complete moron. None of the mitigating circumstances brought up--he was upset, he was on a getaway, he was going to surf, he was going to shoot birds--has anything to do anything. They are just poor excuses for his stupidity. Why doesn't someone say--"He was an idiot, but he had no malicious intent". Taking responsibility for your own actions--I believe that's one of those Marine Corps values--he must've left it behind with his dogtags.
Brooke and BBaker, you people really need to get your news from other sources other than the Obama propaganda machine.
Yeah a Marine, Mr. Marine. Maybe he should have contacted MEXICO 1st. And don't IDIOT me. A**HOLE!!
hmmm, interesting--I'm replying to THIS article. You are also replying to it. So we are getting our info from the same source. Because you have an obsession about this meaningless non-news story that causes you delve into every aspect of the situation all the way back to the moment of conception of the mother of this man--doesn't mean we all share your interest. I've pointed out the 2 pertinent facts. the only 2 that matter.
He's Out. What more do you need to whine about?
The guy did nothing wrong, he didn't try smuggle the gun in, he declared it at Mexican customs. Its outrageous it took this long to free one of our marines, from Mexico no less. Mexican boarder agents were looking to shake down this family, corruption is rampant there. Hillary and or Obama should have been all over this within a week, demanding his release. But no he's been jailed since AUGUST! Good work to those responsible for securing his freedom. I guess Mexico doesn't appreciate our efforts to make the world a safer place, free of terrorist $hitheads.
Why would anyone go to Mexico....there is nothing to see sense they stopped the donkey thing in Tijuana
Brooke...I get it..you are from Florida. I will try and cut you some slack. We all know that people in Florida can't be bothered to read directions ( see the 2000 election ) or bothered to know what they are talking about before they start calling everyone else IDIOTS.
I'll go slow pookie..so bear with me. He was TOLD by US custom officials ( that should know the rules and regulations of countries that they boarder with..seeing how people are gonna go into that country, which is why they are at the customs office in the first place. ) that the 40 year old shotgun was OK to take into Mexico. He was TOLD by custom officials that once they DRIVE across the boarder to declare the shotgun again. HE DID..and was arrested.
So lets review. Who again is the IDIOT?
a) The Marine that was told by OUR CUSTOMS that it was ok to bring the shotgun across into Mexico. ( Remember this is our customs who are supposed to KNOW what is legal for our citizens to take into Mexico and what is not )
Or
b) Some Florida twit that can't be bothered to know all the facts before she opens up her yap trap and starts calling everyone else an Idiot.
I choose B.
And for the record. The problem with the weapon ( Mexico claims ) is with the barrel length. They claim the barrel is 18 mm too long ( 0.7086614173236 inches ) . It is 40 years old and belonged to his great-grandfather. But Mexico ( like Florida ) can not be bothered with facts. Just another way for Mexico to extort money from US citizens. But at least you don't read about people in Mexico dying from a cockroach eating contest.
Maybe they thought this guy was a terrorist $hithead. Flip the scenario. How do you feel about Mexicans coming into America with guns to come and shoot our birds? (lame excuse) You would be all over it. I would be too.
Your post would read:
"Put this Goddamn Mexican with guns in jail then send his a*s back to Mexico!! What a s*itty excuse-here to shoot birds? YEAH RIGHT!! Their whole Damn country has drug issues and all these stories of killings that happen each day. And we are supposed to believe that this guy is here to shoot some birds? And the Mexican Government wants us to hand this criminal over to them no questions asked? F*** the Mexican Government. They are nothing but gun pushing criminals themselves."
There probably is a bunch of people in Mexico saying this exact thing right now about this moron:
"Put this Goddamn Americans with guns in jail then send his a*s back to America!! What a s*itty excuse-here to shoot birds? YEAH RIGHT!! Their whole Damn country has drug issues and all these stories of killings that happen each day. And we are supposed to believe that this guy is here to shoot some birds? And the American Government wants us to hand this criminal over to them no questions asked? F*** the American Government. They are nothing but gun pushing criminals themselves."
Don't you wish that terrorists coming into the US would stop at US Customs and declare their weapons? Like this guy did in Mexico.
brooke the idiot from Ft Lauderdale most likely suffers from bagel brain rot(with a smear?).......but its ok that every household in Israel has an automatic M-16 supplied by the us govt(with 30 round mags).......so what is behind obammys & holders plan to violate the 2nd amendment and disarm the usa-send our guns to Israel? lol liberal dooche bags. go after the money-changing evil hollywood movie moguls(oy vey) for their vile movies and the school shrinks for pumping kids full of riddlin and prozac. the muslim marxist in the white house has no shame for exploiting the deaths of 20 six year olds for political gain......enforce the law and secure the mexican border as your first step...........american citizens killed every day along the 2000 mile border, yet the MSM is providing cover for the liberal yahoo's. tell the whole dirty, ugly story obammy.the shut down of the commie aclu and southern poverty law center should also be on the table. next we should build another table for the 1st amendment separation of church and state issue....government can not force you into a religion of their choice.....including their govt religion of secularism. bring it on, bring it all down man. roflmfao! socialism is the road and communism is the destination.........we are far down the road to serfdom. mao, stalin, castro, pol-pot, & hitler took guns away from its citizens=195 million dead, over 2 billion modern day slaves. gun control-its a red herring.
"Terrorist" is a snippet of my quote and I only used in when quoting the last guy. Way to dodge my point completely.
1st Cav -that was pure nasty drivel.
sending guns to mexicans is the government's job. just ask Brian Terry's family.
Ok Ok Ok. 1st Cav and Jeff. I am not FROM Florida, I LIVE in Florida. You two freak me out and it's the likes of the BOTH of you that me sick. You spew your hatred which is SO uncalled for. As for ....asking ICE ....Now THAT is funny. Yeah.... you go boys.. As far as saying stuff about Isreal? What does that have anything to do with this story.....uh...NOTHING! Then you start up with the President. Next time .....leave the gun at home...
Merry Christmas LOSERS!!!!!
There was an article about this matter last week which stated he did try to register it with mexican authorities and was promptly arrested. Maybe not the wisest choice, If he was taking it to Costa Rica to hunt, he would have BeeN out of luck as that country has banned foriegners to hunt.
In any case, hope he safe and with his family for CHRISTMAS!!
when you go to another country you need to have agun shop here send it to a gun shop in that country and then you claim it there it was his own fault for tring to have a gun with him at al times if he would of sent it then he would of drove right through Mexico the customs officers know OUR laws not all of those in other countries there are steps one must go through every where...At least he got out!!!
Actually, this article is kind of late on the story. He has been released since this morning. And for the idiots who are calling him a moron, if you would have been following the story you would know that he he was on his way to Costa Rica, took the gun with him to go hunting while there, and had to register it in Mexico before he could keep going. That is exactly what he did, he went register it and they arrested him for bringing in an illegal weapon, because they claim the barrel on the gun was 1 inch too short. They demanded $1,800 from his parents. Even people in Mexico wanted him released because he did nothing wrong. He has been chained to a bed since August. Our President did nothing to help this marine who fought in 2 wars for his country. Obama had nothing to do with his release. Bill O'Reilly on Fox News said he would not stop until he got this guy some help and he was influential in his release, but of course this article would never mention that, nor has the story been covered on any liberal news channel. This article mentions nothing of Obama doing anything to help him out. Yet, all the mexican illegals are allowed to come into our country and commit horrible crimes and they are let loose. This only makes the US looks like a bunch of stupid idiots that they are, other countries laugh and make fun of the stupids we have running our country. This story has been on the news for the last 2 weeks. Fox News has his parents on several times begging for help. Thank you Bill O'Reilly for helping these people and Fox News for airing stories that the left media tries to hide from us.
Oh, a letter was written to Hilliary Clinton a week ago and she did nothing to help either, but this guy has been there since August and his parents have been trying to get help and our gov't again did nothing. Hey Americans, ya think you can depend on your gov't to help you out-think again, it will let you die, but it will bend over backwards to take your hard earned money and give it to drug cartels and countries who hate us and want to kill us.
1st CAV-1274774
first off you rambel and jump around to much did you forget your riddelin? Second what bills has Obama signed that have anything to do with gun controll? Give acctual bill number or names cuz there is not a one he acctualy let some laws expire look and read the facts public acts info Obama has been the best president to support the NRA and any proud leagel gun owning American. And for the number of americans killed along the border you must have a big a** hole to have pulled that number out of at least do a fact check before you make yourself look like a bigger fool then you are. And Kanic did O riley pay the $1800 so he could go home right away nope he just talked yea more then anybody else did
Praise the lord, prayer does work, and God does listen. Thanks to Fox news and Bill O'Reiley. Thanks to people in Congress also that helpled. Merry Christmas to all and Happy New Year.Ditto and Godl bless us
all.
Unfortunately, I think the problem here is we slightly under estimated Mexico by only sending in one armed marine!
Brooke and BB: Basing your comments and the totality of your information on one MSN article is in and of itself the height of stupidity. Well, that and declaring that an informed blogger is more stupid than you.
That being said, I'm glad Mr. Hammar is being released. Now, how about getting the American Citizen that is being held in Iran for being a Christian released?
BB put the drink down. He checked in with US customs. They told him he shouldn't have a problem declaring the weapon. He declared the weapon and was promptly arrested. If you have problems with gringos leave our country and do not return.
1POV
Agreed. It would also be nice to get Sgt. Bowie Bergdahl released from his kidnappers in Afghanistan after 3 years.
Citizen Frank...
When you can only send one make it a U.S. Army Paratrooper !!!
I don't have a problem with gringos, at least the ones who have the common sense of a trained dog or higher. This JarHead made a stupid mistake--which is what stupid people do. His status as a United States Marine is totally irrelevant to anything that occured. I could drink a bottle of gin at one sitting and know Not to Take a Gun across an international border, no matter what I was told by anyone. I also know that the shortest route from South Florida to Costa Rica is by airplane.
dude, your last name ends in a vowel--you'd better get a grip with the "our" country BS. We are a Christian Nation--i.e, a WASP nation.
(how do you like being talked down to in a quasi-Republican, nonsensical tone? next time leave your faux-patriotic cheaps shots in your head instead of actually uttering them).
I have a problem with stupid white trash who are always the smartest person in the conversation on Every Subject. Anyone who continues to make stupid excuses for him are just as stupid as he is.
do not travel to Mexico, it is out of control, this is a real lesson , they do not like North Americans, they do not want them in their country, if you are arrested for any reason , you could spend years in jail just trying to get a trial, the officials are almost all corrupt, those that are honest and try to apply the law are killed by the cartels, Mexico was once a beautiful country with great people , today it is a corrupt hell hole.
BB it's like talking to a two year old. Don't infer your own logic instead look at this with the facts presented. If you do that and don't go off into self induce delusion then you will understand this story as to what it is. Wisdom and logic work better without emotion or bias. C'mon man you're better than that.
Uh, hey Saxon, first of all, Mexico is located IN NORTH AMERICA. Second of all, the majority of Mexico is STILL a beautiful, culture filled country, with many great, caring and honest people, who are fed up with the corruption and dishonesty MUCH more than we are! I have many friends and family who live there, and visit at least twice a year, trust me, I know!
EX Marine, FORMER Marine, Marine VETERAN ..... get your descriptions straight you idiots....if he's a HONORABLE Discharge Marine, he's a MARINE, NOT EX, NOT FORMER , he's a freekin MARINE !!!!!
You media writers make me sick !!!!!!
Simma Marine...... Anger much?
shame he couldn't qualify as a SEAL. Then this pointless statement wouldn't be neccessary
Only Marine families know that "once a Marine, always a Marine." I did not know this until my son joined up--don't fault the media for not knowing. (I grew up Navy.) It's a family thing. Teach them what they don't know--correct them nicely.
I'm glad they're letting this young man go. The article said they determined he had no malicious intent--although, as a mother, I would have advised him to leave weapons of any kind back here in the States. Go surfing--buy a fishing knife in country if you have to. I've always told my kids that once you leave our borders, you have no rights!
I'm glad he's on his way home. Be safe, Marine.
Another reason to avoid Mexico....
I really don't care that Marines say once a Marine all ways a Marine. the fact is that he is not currently on Active duty so therefor Ex-Marine, Marine Veteran, or former Marine are all correct. For you to want to correct the writer of this story over this is stupid. Kinda of make you seam like the Idiot.
@Brett Moon, Your spelling, grammar and punctuation make you seem like the idiot here!
Because you never served you do not realize he can be called back to duty. When the @!$%# hits the fan and he is out there saving your neck you might adopt a different attitude.
Brett...
America's problems are many and they start with not teaching patriotism and the traditions of patriotism.
Your dad failed you as you are failing your children.
Exactly! He's a Marine. And Kanic above got the story straight. When I read that they tried to extort $1,800 from his family, and he was easily recognizable by his (Marine) tattoo (previous stories), I knew this was just another case of Mexican officials at their extortion game. I just can't believe it took so long to get him out. I will never travel to or through that country again.
Thanks to Bill O'Reilly of Fox News, he has been released. In prison since August and when Jay Carney was asked about it, he confirmed that they knew nothing about this. A typical response from this administration and how they handle issues such as this as well as the Benghazi debacle.
"No American should be in a Mexican jail for five months without being able to have his case in front of a judge," Nelson said Friday. "
The US does it to Mexicans all the time. See triple doubleyou dot huffingtonpost dot com/2012/01/27/immigration-detention_n_1231618.html
Didn't read your link but I would venture to guess that the Mexicans you refer to are here illegally and did not declare anything. This man tried to do the right thing and was up front about his weapon. Why didn't they just confiscate it and send him back to the U.S. If we did in fact do this same thing to a Mexican the outrage would be deafening and Washington would have joined in. Beiing a U.S. citizen it gets swept under the rug. Sickening.
I agree with many here that a lot of posts from stupid people simply spewing their anti-gun rhetoric while completely ignoring the fact that this fellow did everything right in declaring his shotgun first at the US border before crossing into Mexico, then following their instructions regarding declaring this shotgun with the Mexican authorities.
This was a shakedown attempt by the corrupt Mexican authorities, nothing more. As a result, this poor fellow languished in one of their hellhole prisons since August, and despite constant pleas from his parents to the state department and various congresspersons, absolutely nothing was being done.
Then Bill O'Reilly of FOX news entered into the fray and within about a week or so, this former Marine was freed and on his way home. It seems he accomplished what our illustrious government officials were unwilling or unable to do,
This normally would heap shame on the likes of Hillary or Obama if they weren't already completely shameless, and further exemplifies the considerable influence wielded by one Bill O'Reilly. Its no wonder the radical left despises him.
Willy, you were right on track til you brought up the spine-less retard O'Reilly. He's so smart he guaranteed your girl Mittsy would be my pres now. RETARD. However, I love crossing the boarder into La Mexico like many other USAers. It is quite fun. I am a war veteran but, not a jarhead. However, I definitely have been shaken down by Juarez policia. Luckily, I, and my friends, had some change and could pay our way out of detention. I'm guessin this jarhead was broke and just lookin for fun. USAers can't even sneeze wrong down there. Just about all Mexicans are ready for the shakedown. I even had a 10 yr old girl and her 5 yr old brother shake me down crossing back into USA in Juarez. Here I am thinking they should be sleeping and getting ready for school. This was 5am in the morning. I pull out cash and hold $10 bill and the little girl grabbed it out of my drunken hand and ran with her little brother. I laughed and what Mexico is as a country. Home of the shakedown.
Steve the dem 2.17
Say what you want about O'Reilly but this jarhead was languishing in that Mexican prison with little hope of getting out anytime soon until O'Reilly got involved.
As for "my girl" Mittsy not getting elected, your boy won and now we are all going to suffer the consequences. Consequences from which this country will most likely never recover.
What a stupid idea to take a weapon into another country when war has not been declared in the first place (and he is not active duty any more either). Their laws not ours when he crossed the border. The fact that he is a Marine only adds to the suspicions. Really, he did not ask the Mexican authorities what was the law in their country (who cares what US officials say – not their domain) before entering? He should know far far better. This guy is lucky.
Thank you USAF RET
I couldn't agree more. And you ARE a Military man. So there you go MR. Marine
You folks should figure out what actually happened before you pass judgement. This man was in the process of complying with Mexico's gun laws. He was actually registering the weapon with Mexican authorities when he was arrested. He was doing everything he was supposed to do by US and Mexican laws. Just becasue someone in the AF is as lacking in information and reasoning ability as you are does not negate the facts of the incident. BTW, USN Ret.
Well to be fair to the Marine, he did try to follow procedure to have the gun there. He should have been told it was not legal and made to leave the country. The idiots in this story are the morons who decided to arrest him instead.
USAF retired. Same here. Really? United States Air Force? Maybe there are two USAFs. Yours and mine. You're wrong, Bud. As For Brooke? Won't even waste my time on this uneducated civilian, know nothing
USAF RET, The shotgun in question is, according to the Mexican army (the authority on these matters) legal in Mexico. This is a case of mis-interpretation of the law by local authorities. This happens even in the U.S.! He didn't try to smuggle the gun, he tried to follow Mexican law!
USAF Retired, read the article? Watch the news much? He tried to declare it and register it, they took it and arrested him, they called his dad asking for money for his release!!!! Would not matter what it was, they will think of any excuse to extort money from the US!!!
Thank you for you service but please, this man was illegally kept in Prison and illegally arrested.
I am just glad justice will be done for him by letting him go, Mexico would have paid a big price if not from our citizens!!!!
USAF RET, You don't even merit a reply.
For all you former military personel (veterans) its a disgrace that you bash on another Veteran. Next thing you gentleman need to get straight is the fact that this young man crossed the Border in to Mexico with a weapon, In Mexico once you cross the Border you are breaking their laws regardless of your intent to go register the Weapon. In mexico only active Military and Police Officers from Mexico have the authority to carry a weapon.
Maybe you should do research before writing something so you don't come across ignorant. The Mexicans are saying that the barrel is too short but most legal experts in Mexico say this isn't the case. The weapon is an antique not a military weapon. They simply could have refused him entry because he was declaring it.
He did go through the proper procedures. That is not in this story. He asked the U.S. Consulate what to do. They gave him the info as given them by the Mexican government. He followed the instructions and when he went in to declare and "register" with the Mexican officials they arrested him.
Gun control 101: Make the rules. Take the Guns. Arrest anyone who tries to follow your rules as you set them out. Make the law abiding the criminals and treat as demons.
Mexico 101: No trade, Deport all illegals asap, no tourist visits.
One more reason not to go to Mexico.
It will be a cold F'n day in Hell before I spend so much a 1 red cent in that country (Mexico) again. We prop up their crappy country with our tourist dollars plus house and feed their refugees that are fleeing that cesspool, dragging our country down in the process, and this is how they show their gratitude, by arresting one of our Marines at the boarder, while declaring a firearm in his possession to Mexican boarder agents. HE DID NOTHING WRONG! Screw You Mexico!
I can't wait to go back to Cancun. This Marine was a moron. "Hey Mexico! It was just one American jabroni! We all aren't complete morons! Please let me back into Paradise!!"
richardharrow
I can't wait to go back to Cancun.
We can't either, Richard!
@richardharrow, do us all a favor and stay there!
Please stay Richard. You too Red (wilted) Rose
(pinkie) floyd:
You missread what I said. I meant that we coudn't wait for him (Richard) to go, NOT that I coudn't wait to go! It was sarcasm, floyd!
(the not even close to wilted) RR
And now the full story comes out. Originally, the way the story was written, it was implied that it was a handgun, and there were lots of comments about how he got what he deserved by trying to take one into Mexico.
Now the truth it out, he went of his own free will to register the gun and was arrested for having it. It wasn't a handgun, it was rifle for hunting birds. A five month stay in a Mexican jail was nothing more than an "up yours" to the US, especially since this was a Marine and he clearly did not even realize he was doing anything wrong.
And MSNBC, your original coverage of the story was an attempt to color the story in as favorable a light as possible for Mexico.
They are not even flying him home but are driving him? What are the odds he will be ambushed by "drug dealers" before making it to the border? "Oh, so sorry, nothing we could do, happens you know, our condolences."
Hope you make it home, Marine.
He is at the border. Where are they supposed to fly him to? that is where he entered Mexico.
Matamoros where he was in jail is on the border with Brownsville Texas if he was smart he would of followed the law and had a gun shop here in the states send his gun to a gun shop in Costa Rica then he would of just walked in picked it up and then would of been told he is not allowed to hunt in their country cuz he is not citisen there
It was not a hunting rifle it was a shotgun, the problem was with the length of the barrel. That is from the first article I read on this story.
The individual should have called the local Mexican Consulate on this side before even trying to take said shotgun across. They could have told him what he could and could not do in Mexico regarding firearms. Then there would have been no problem.
Absolutely!! This Marine just is lacking in a bit of common sense!
He was in the process of complying with Mexican law WHEN HE WAS ARRESTED. Jeesh, think people!
The Mexican army, who are the authorities on gun matters in Mexico, say the shotgun is legal. He was correctly trying to comply with Mexican law.
He did contact authorities in Mexico ahead of time and followed THEIR information. You guys just don't have the smarts to look into the whole story and take what MSDNC / Guncontrolinc. feeds you.
Jay, I live on the border and have smarts enough to know never to try to take a firearm into Mexico under any circumstances. How about you?
Well the lad must have missed most of the relevant news reports regarding Mexihole in the past several years. This Marine must have been living under a rock or lacks the God given common sense needed to come to the conclusion most sane American individuals have come to......STAY THE HELL OUT'A THERE!!!
With Mexihole detaining an American citizen this long, without due process, it should make any American postpone any travel to that murdering Hell Hole. I could certainly find much better; safer and cleaner places to travel and spend my money. Recent reports put the "Cartel Count" in Mexihole at 80 now.....wonderful.
Not to mention all the signs at the border that say that guns and ammunition are illegal in Mexico. One would think that having seen those signs, and they are explicit in the potential penalties, the guy would ask himself if he should continue with his actions.
For a serviceman not to pay attention to detail is very odd indeed. One thing they bore into you during boot camp is to pay attention to detail. The details are what will make you or break you.
USN 8 years
Yeah, must have been that rock in Afghanistan or Iraq. Morons.
Great example of what Hillary and Obama REALLY think about our military people. Hell, they watched Americans die in Benghazi and did nothing. (With still no repercusions.) Why would they actually lift a finger to do something to help a Military person in Mexico? I bet if it was some well known liberal puke,,, he would not have been locked up for even a week before they got him out. The media would have also made it headline news every day. Putin is probably SO envious of our media.
Another crybaby con.
What difference does him being an Ex-Marine make. If he was active duty and on gov. business then the Gov. would have gotten involved. But as for any civilian if you go to another country and break there laws you are subject to there court system.
Brett Moon, are you an adult? You sure don't sound like one!
@dave Another ignorant libtard with the logic and critical reasoning of a 2 year old.
Obama does not care about Americans at home why should he care about those in Libya or Mexico?
A strong POTUS or SOS would have shut down every flight to Cancun until he was released as well as the Texas truck driver set free last week.
I agree with Don't be a victim. Obama and Hillary could have gotten this Marine out in
a week or 2 if they had tried. It just wasn't important enough.
John, seriously. Something goes wrong and you advocate to run the the POTUS. Please dude. I've caused lots of trouble. It's my middle name. Your telling me to run to the POTUS. Get a grip or just shoot yourself.
We missed a good chance to do a prisoner exchange with mexico.
Could've swapped 18 million illegal mexicans for the one marine.
That is great!!! LOL!!!
Yes and obama only won by 5 mil now we know where they came from.
That was the problem! They kept trying to offer them the 18 million illegal Mexicans for the Marine, but Mexico wanted us to TAKE 18 million more ALONG WITH the Marine.
Good one Warren.
Stupid on BobW
Sorry BOB. The POTUS didn't win the chicken hawk, bean farmer. He won the educated people though.
Nobody should be locked up for trying to comply with the law, in any country. The officials in Mexico could have simply walked this guy back to the border and told him to come back with a legal gun or no gun at all. End of incident - every body's happy there's no threat to tourism in Mexico. (Funny how this got resolved the day after some congressmen promoted a boycott of Mexico.)
Also note that this was a disagreement over no more than a half-inch (the barrel length of the weapon was the point of contention). This is similar to many laws we have on the books in this contry concerning firearms, including some of the laws now being proposed. We're trying our damndest to turn this country into another Mexico.
Dave, they, meaning Mexican authorities, saw a white face youngster. They saw $ signs on his head. That's all they saw. We should just call it the "Ol Mexi shake". Mafia figures here in the US wouldn't mind.
None of you seem to have all the facts on this-and nbcmsn did not report them. Perhaps you would like to be informed before jumping to conclusions...and then why would you want to do that? Bottom line, the man did nothing wrong, morally, ethically, or legally in either country. And yes he is a decorated combat Marine in two wars and has an honorable discharge. And now we see how lib dems support the troops. NOT! LIARS! But I already knew that.
CSM USA RET Airborne Infantry 23yrs
BobW Well go back and post where you get your "facts" and keep your bad mouthing off a thread where the article is discussed and not things from your conspiracy websites.
Since you are interested, do your own research. Or make uninformed incorrect judgements in a public venue. Your choice.
The article doesn't mention Bill O'rReilly who was the driving force to get this man released
Once he broke the story it was his and his audience pressure that got results.
BOB. I'm a war veteran. Don't know if you are. Still, this was about dineros. Calm down. Libs didn't make this boy cross the border.
Just don't go to such a violent corrupt hellhole of a country like Mexico until it polices and cleans up its self...had nothing to do with "libs". Stupid a@@ GOP bagger thinking again....
It has been my experience that dealing with authorities in Latin America can be very straight forward when approached from a position of mutual respect. Throw in a generous helping of American attitude and you can find yourself in jail for a few months getting reamed by Pedro. Dumb, dumb, dumb.
As I said you do not have the facts.
As I said you do not have the facts
Roland speak the truth around here. If your not dirty there shouldn't be any problems in such a beautiful part of this world. But, if your dirty and you look like you got dineros Katie bar the door.
I'm not saying that all Mexicans are STUPID, but the ones that Jon Hammar ran into have taken STUPID MEXICAN to a new low.
You are pretty stupid, and a bigot
Jon Hammer is the one who ended up sitting in a jail for 5mons so who is the stuppid one the ones going home to their families or the guy sitting in a jail ceil? FALLOW THE LAW PPL
richard ... you calling anyone stupid is like the pot calling the kettle black. Pendejo Bolillo!
We are all glad one of our nations hero's is coming home safe. This was a fiasco to begin with, glad it ended well.
I'll breathe easier when he's all the way home. Don't like the fact he isn't flying. Things don't usually go well for our people when they drive to the border.
You have a low threshold for "heros".
@screminmimi, the border is likely closer than the nearst airport.
And, dave-sunny so.cal, you have a low threshold for intellegent thought!
By "a position of mutual respect", you must mean a handful of mucho dinero.
From reading the original article here on MSNBC about this Marine and what happened when he tried to cross the border with what was then called a family owned older rifle his great great uncle had owned at one time and handed down to him after his passing, this Marine had talked with US border patrol and US customs (prior to crossing the Mexican border)and was told that the rifle was perfectly legal to bring with across the border into Mexico, once on the Mexican side of the border everything was going fine until he was told the rifle was found to be to short by like maybe and inch and that's what started all this crapola for him. The US border patrol lied to this guy and caused some of this mess by giving him the wrong info without checking with there Mexican counterparts before he crossed the border. This is what doing the proper thing or right thing gets you in Mexico! Honesty is overrated when it comes to anything with the word "Mexico in it.
From what I read here at MSNBC and other news sites I searched after reading the first article here they all were saying pretty much the same thing. This Marine's life was even at great risk at one time by a drug gang in the prison where he was being held at and the Mexican authorities couldn't guarantee his safety while he detained in prison they were saying.
This whole deal was an absolute travesty of justice for this young man/Marine and to how he was treated by Mexican authorities and his family at one time couldn't get any help from the US state dept and it wasn't looking good for him at that time. All of this was because he tried to follow the rules and got the shaft by Mexico.
I'm glad he is now finally coming home and I hope he stays far away from that country as well as any others thinking of traveling to visit this country as Mexico has become nothing more than a dump and is not a safe place for anyone to visit period. With so many of there own people in our country illegally there's not much left in Mexico now but low life's and scammer's that hate the US and its people. Stay clear of Mexico unless you like to have your rights thrown under a bus as they could care less and only look out for whoever has the most money to pay them in bribes and whatever else they can get from you for doing nothing wrong in that country.
Now if we could only send them back all there own people living in the USA illegally I would be very happy as would most of the US population if they knew what these Mexican invaders have did to to our once beautiful country. Look up illegals crossing the border on Youtube and you'll see what these people do to a countryside.
Thanks for the facts Mike. Just one left out...two days ago it was Bill O'Reilly on the Factor DEMANDING that obama and mexico do something about this THIS WEEK. Again yesterday Bill was back on and DEMANDED mexico release him by Christmas. Lo and behold I get up this morning and mexico is setting him free. Those are just the facts, ma'am.
LMAO!!!! So there's where you get your "facts" Bill O'Reilly. Big surprise! What are you doing here then? You get your lies from Bill then come here to push it down our throats? I choose not to watch that moron, and I am pretty sure that Obama does too. If you think Billy O has enough clout to sway Obamas' decisions and international policies then you are loonier that I initially thought.
well rich ..i think mabee you need to start watching and read other news media outlets..there are always a few sides to articles and if you want to know the most about a story you will need to look on both sides. don't be a one sided person . i watch fox and cnn and msn and what ever other new sites i can . there all one sided on alot of things. but as a informed person i tink i can weed out the garbage and see whats going on...this guy was held in a jail for money..nothing else ...and if it were reported on like it should have been and put out there..i'm thinking he would have been at least released months ago ..a shame he wasn't ...glad he's home now ...
BOB I saw this story for the first time a week an a half ago when NBC was talking to his mother and father. You need to quit blowin FOX. O'Reilly is a RETARD. Ergo - you might very well share a kindred spirit with him.
A former Marine is a Marine that has been honorably discharged from the Marine Corps. He is still a Marine.
An ex Marine is a Marine who has been dishonorably discharged from the Marine Corps and is not a Marine.
Oorah! Oorah! Semper Fi!
Thank you...... At least someone understands..... As for Brooke from Fl ...... and others, you need to read ALL the articles pertaining to this situation and find the truth. HE NEVER took the gun INTO Mexico, he was DECLARING it at the border when arrested. I find it ironic, those that are not Marines, state the facts about Marine standards. If you don't know what we mean by "ALWAYS" a Marine, STFU and read the history of the Marine Corps. We EARN the title, and it can never be taken away. The difference between us and other branches are we are not embarrassed by saying we are a Marine.
Here's a scenario .... When asked what he/she does for a living, a sailor would likely respond, "I'm in the Navy." An airman would likely respond, "I'm in the Air Force." A soldier would probably reply, "I'm in the Army." When asked the same question, a Marine will answer, "I AM a Marine.
Big deal. "I'm a Marine". I could crush a Marine no questions asked. I'm a soldier. USArmy. Never give love to a jarhead except to say they love this land like I do. That's all you get.
@Muddie,
Most of the U.S. populations according to "accurate" polls favor a path to legal residency for undocumented immigrants. The fringe, such as yourself, who believe deporting is the only option don't understand that option isn't possible.
As to looking up "illegals crossing the border" to see what "these people" do to a countryside, have you seen what predominantly low income Caucasians do to a beautiful trailer park?
Merry X-mas, Mike.
There IS and has always been a legal path to citizenship. Follow it or go to jail-or back.
You are wrong, ElMeroSabroso,
Most of the US populations do not favor a path to legal residency for illegal aliens. Most of the US populations are infuriated by the law breakers who are getting a free pass and see it as an exception being made for a specific class of people who do not deserve it any more than anyone else.
Many immigrants have been waiting years and have paid thousands of dollars to enter this country by legal means, and illegal aliens are not special enough in their eyes to jump ahead of the system by virtue of the fact that they can slither across the land border attached to our country.
You are a liar & mexico is a sh!t hole
This is one American that says ALL ILLEGAL ALIENS have already broken the law and need to be deported. No more ANCHOR babies to keep anyone here, and taking needed money, healthcare, schooling etc from our LEGAL citizens that work hard and have to pay for this.
Send them ALL home, and close our borders to only those who are willing to do it LEGALLY, and SPEAK ENGLISH! Don't like it...STAY HOME and fix your own damn country instead of screwing up ours!
When will members of the "Fourth Estate" realize there is no such thing as an "Ex-Marine?" There are only former active duty Marines.
Apparently people still believe Mexico is a fun, happy country to vacation in. Unfortunately, it is more like Afghanistan or Pakistan than most people want to admit. Taking a gun into Mexico is a stupid thing to do, even if it is a legal gun and you declare it. They will jail you until you pay a bribe, keep your gun and your car and thank you for your money. Mexico is still a third world country filled with corrupt cops and government officials, and it is all about the money to them. Boycott Mexico.
Absolute bull$hit. Mexico is a wonderful place to visit. Just like in the US, there are places to avoid. In Mexico, those places are "just across the border." Mainly because the border area is where the smuggling activities are centered. Anybody travelling to or through Mexico is advised to cross the border early in the morning and get as far away from the border before stopping for the night.
That's funny. Less immigration from Mexico over the past four years. Economy is the driving factor. Actually, the Mexican middle-class is expanding. Our economy is the one lagging not only in northern hemisphere but, world-wide. Mexicans come here for money not love of USA. I believe Mexis, and all other south Americans will head for Brazil. A booming economy.
La mordida must have finally gotten right.
Everyone knows sending guns to the narco terrorist in Mexico is the US Governments job. they don't like competition either.
The Mexican authorities were just looking for an autograph.
They thought he was the illegitimate child of Matt Damon and Mark Wahlberg
I am glad they are letting him go. Even though he was cleared by the US for this weapon he should have never taken it across the border. Mexico is so corrupt there is nothing they won't do to try and extort money from someone.