State Department Issues Fresh Warning to Tourists About This Gun-Controlled Caribbean Destination

It’s been a few months since I’ve seen any news about U.S. tourists running afoul of the highly restrictive gun laws in Turks & Caicos, which generated a slew of headlines last year after several visitors faced a decade or more behind bars for inadvertently bringing stray rounds of ammunition with them on vacation. Though the U.S. citizens were ultimately spared jail time in lieu of some serious fines, the Turks & Caicos government still allows judges to impose draconian sentences on tourists caught in similar circumstances, which might explain why the Trump administration has issued a new travel advisory for those thinking about spending a few days on the islands’ sunny beaches.

The Level 2 advisory released this week encourages visitors to “exercise increased caution” once they’re in Turks & Caicos; not only because of the ridiculous gun laws on the books, but the growing amount of crime in the largest city. 

Most crime occurs in Providenciales. Police may have limited investigatory resources. U.S. Embassy Nassau, located in The Bahamas, provides consular services (including assistance to victims of crime) for U.S. citizens in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Firearms and ammunition, including single bullets brought by mistake in carry-on bags or luggage, are illegal. Police strictly enforce these laws, even at the airport when travelers are leaving. Travelers face arrest, jail time, and heavy fines. Some U.S. citizens have been detained and unable to depart for several weeks or more after being found with bullets in their luggage. Offenders can face 12 years or more in prison. Though the law allows for some exceptions and discretion, the Department of State cannot guarantee your release.

With President Trump willing to go to the mat with countries like Canada and Mexico on trade, I’m somewhat surprised (and a little disappointed) that he hasn’t taken a swipe at Turks & Caicos over its draconian gun laws. Then again, we haven’t seen any headlines about U.S. tourists busted with an errant round of ammunition in their luggage since Trump was sworn in for his second term, so maybe he’s just keeping his powder dry until there’s a specific incident to address. 

As much as I could use a good beach vacation, I’m not interested in being the lab rat in an experiment to see how Trump would react to a tourist looking at 12 years in prison for failing to thoroughly check their carry-on before heading to the airport. And since it’s been more than six months since we’ve last heard of a U.S. citizen being arrested for violating Turks & Caicos gun laws, either gun-owning visitors have learned from the experience of others or the tourism-dependent government has quietly informed local judges to exercise their discretion and allow these unwitting “criminals” to return home without paying tens of thousands of dollars in fines or cooling their heels in a prison cell. 

Now, I had no plans to visit Turks & Caicos before the arrests last year, but after seeing a fellow Virginian get fined $9,000 after he was caught with two rounds of 9mm ammunition that he accidentally brought with him on vacation, there’s no way I’m setting foot in the Turks & Caicos unless or until its gun laws change for the better. The governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, on the other hand, is looking to relax the gun laws in the territory, and I’d much rather spend my vacation money in a place where the right to keep and bear arms actually exists to some degree than a place where a single bullet can result in a decade-long lockup.