cue
- Thread starter sciarco
- Start date
As I recall, there was an incident reported about a fellow Azer that was driving to his home to the USA from Alaska. His cue was confiscated at the U.S.-Canadian border because the cue had a wrap that was Ring Tail Lizard which was listed on the endangered wildlife list........same would apply to ivory I imagine.....here's the catch........ownership of ivory is not illegal and the new ivory regulation specifically mentions and explains this.......but some people are assholes and this unlucky Azer ran into just such a situation........anytime you take your cue out of the USA without proper CITES documentation you are exposing your cues to the risk of confiscation on the way back in........and obtaining CITES certification is impossible. So when you get challenged that you are bringing in something illegally, what's a guy supposed to do to prove to the "asshole inspector" standing in front of you that your cue is indeed legal.........you say "That's all pre-ban ivory in my cue you're holding."
When you are asked for your CITES certificate, you say...."What's that?".....or...."It's impossible to get."..........and that asshole inspector replies......."How do I know that ivory is genuinely pre-ban ivory.......or that wrap isn't pre-ban elephant ear....or ring tail lizard, etc.? Here's the rub......... if the cue ivory was actually pre-ban, you could insist all you want but the proof would be in the testing of the of the ivory. That involves destroying your pool cue by taking core samples of the ivory......and the more ivory the more core samples are taken which is accomplished by drilling holes in the ivory......ferrules, joint, butt cap, inlays & rings.......get the picture........and you would probably get a bill from the US Fish & Wildlife for laboratory analysis of the samples. A bill or statement from your cue-maker or the person you acquired your cue from is "worthless" per U.S. Fish & Wildlife officials.........the genuineness of the document comes into question and more importantly, the truthfulness, accuracy & reliability of the source........the only documentation that works is a CITES certificate if you were to be challenged.......pretty much anything else you produce or say is like spitting into a 50 mph wind blowing in your face......what'ya think is gonna happen?
This is serious shit.....look at California's pending new legislation (CA Assembly Bill AB-96) which is on the governor's desk awaiting signature.....the buy/sale of all ivory becomes illegal. The California Assembly passed AB 96 to close loopholes in the existing state regulations to ensure that illegal ivory and rhino horns do not find safe haven in California. The bill received a final vote of 62-14.I understand Oregon has the exact same law already in place or that's what I've read.
Matt B.
p.s. I never read or heard anything about the mentioned Azer having his confiscated cue returned........I wonder what he had to do to get it back and if he was ultimately successful?
When you are asked for your CITES certificate, you say...."What's that?".....or...."It's impossible to get."..........and that asshole inspector replies......."How do I know that ivory is genuinely pre-ban ivory.......or that wrap isn't pre-ban elephant ear....or ring tail lizard, etc.? Here's the rub......... if the cue ivory was actually pre-ban, you could insist all you want but the proof would be in the testing of the of the ivory. That involves destroying your pool cue by taking core samples of the ivory......and the more ivory the more core samples are taken which is accomplished by drilling holes in the ivory......ferrules, joint, butt cap, inlays & rings.......get the picture........and you would probably get a bill from the US Fish & Wildlife for laboratory analysis of the samples. A bill or statement from your cue-maker or the person you acquired your cue from is "worthless" per U.S. Fish & Wildlife officials.........the genuineness of the document comes into question and more importantly, the truthfulness, accuracy & reliability of the source........the only documentation that works is a CITES certificate if you were to be challenged.......pretty much anything else you produce or say is like spitting into a 50 mph wind blowing in your face......what'ya think is gonna happen?
This is serious shit.....look at California's pending new legislation (CA Assembly Bill AB-96) which is on the governor's desk awaiting signature.....the buy/sale of all ivory becomes illegal. The California Assembly passed AB 96 to close loopholes in the existing state regulations to ensure that illegal ivory and rhino horns do not find safe haven in California. The bill received a final vote of 62-14.I understand Oregon has the exact same law already in place or that's what I've read.
Matt B.
p.s. I never read or heard anything about the mentioned Azer having his confiscated cue returned........I wonder what he had to do to get it back and if he was ultimately successful?
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