Can You Cross Airsoft Guns to Tijuana

Jon Hammar Sr. paces the sidewalk along the Brownsville & Matamoros bridge as he waits for his son to be released from Mexico on Friday in Brownsville, Texas.

Jon Hammar was beingness held on a gun charge
Mexican officials decided not to entreatment the judge's ruling
His family unit said he was existence held in isolation

MIAMI (AP) — A Marine veteran jailed for months in Mexico after trying to carry a family heirloom shotgun across the border has been freed, U.Southward. officials and his lawyer said late Friday.

The attorney for 27-twelvemonth-old Jon Hammar tweeted Friday night that his customer had been released from a detention center in Matamoros, Mexico.

"Jon is out, going home!" Eddie Varon Levy tweeted.

Patrick Ventrell, the acting deputy spokesman for the State Department, confirmed Hammer's release and return to the U.Southward. in a statement Friday night.

"Officials from the U.Due south. Consulate General in Matamoros met him at the prison and escorted him to the U.Due south. edge, where he was reunited with members of his family," the statement said. "Nosotros sincerely appreciate the efforts on the function of Mexican authorities to ensure that an appropriate resolution was fabricated in accord with Mexican law, and that Mr. Hammar will be gratis to spend the holidays with his loved ones."

An adjutant to a legal representative of the Mexican chaser general's office had told U.S. Sen. Pecker Nelson's staff virtually the pending release after the Florida Democrat's role got word from Hammar's mother, co-ordinate to a press release from Nelson'southward function.

"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 in that statement. "We're grateful; this is a good Christmas present."

Earlier Friday, Varon Levy said he was flying from Mexico City to Matamoros to pick upwardly his client. After that, the attorney said, they intended to cantankerous the border at Brownsville, Texas. "I'm very happy. I feel that the Mexican legal organization came out the way information technology should have," he said.

U.S. clearing and Land Section officials had been at the Mexican detention center waiting for Hammar'due south release.

A defense lawyer said Mexican regime determined there was no intent to commit a law-breaking, Nelson'south office said. The senator was among a handful of elected officials who urged the Country Department to help get Hammar out of Mexico. His family had said he was being held in isolation after threats to his safety were received.

"These past few months take been an absolute nightmare for Jon and his family, and I am so relieved that this whole ordeal will soon be over," said U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., in a argument. " I am overcome with joy knowing that Jon will exist spending Christmas with his parents, family and friends."

The chaser, Varon Levy, said the path for Hammar's return was cleared when Mexican officials decided not to appeal the gauge'south ruling.

Noncombatant gun buying is illegal under Mexican police force unless the possessor purchases the weapon from a special store run by the country's Department of Defense.

"The Department of State warns all U.S. citizens confronting taking any type of firearm or ammunition into Mexico," the U.S. Diplomatic mission in United mexican states writes on its website. "Entering United mexican states with a firearm, certain types of knives, or even a single circular of ammunition is illegal, even if the weapon or ammunition is taken into Mexico unintentionally."

Mexican law too bans shotguns with barrels of less than 25 inches. The family said Hammar's shotgun has a barrel of 24 inches.

Tourists are immune to bring guns for hunting on rare occasions, but Mexican officials said all visitors must receive a special permit before entering the country. Mexican customs agents do not issue gun permits. Every bit a result, anyone crossing the edge with a firearm or ammunition without a previously issued government permit is in instant violation of Mexican law, which stipulates long jail terms for breaking weapons laws.

Hammar and his friend were on their style to Costa Rica in August and planned to drive across the Mexican edge near Matamoros in a Winnebago filled with surfboards and camping gear. Hammar asked U.Due south. border agents what to exercise with the unloaded shotgun. His family said agents told them to make full out a course for the gun, which belonged to Hammar's great-grandfather.

Just when the pair crossed the border and handed the paperwork to Mexican officials, they impounded the RV and jailed the men, maxim it was illegal to carry that blazon of gun. Hammar's friend was subsequently released considering the gun did non belong to him.

Before Hammar's release, Varon Levy said he was non sure of his customer'southward immediate plans upon existence freed. "Probably some down time," he said.