Miller Ferry Catawba Island CPZ confusion..

[Muad]

So, my best bro took me camping yesterday. The plan was to kayak from Catawba Island over to Put-in-bay with our gear strapped to the kayaks. Well, I capsized (waves were 2-4, easy). So, we decided to take the Miller Ferry since we were launching from right next to it and it was close. Well, upon trying to walk on, we were stopped by one of the deck hands who asked to look in my buddy's dry bag. Upon seeing his Springer XD45, he said "do you have a badge?". On the table were he was inspecting the bags contents, there was a huge CPZ sign (No gun sign that stated NO Concealed Firearms). He also had a flare gun in there (from when we were on the kayaks, we just grabbed all our gear and walked over to the ferry). At first the guy acted like he was going to call the cops (we were very polite and followed all of his instructions). In the end, he was asking the owner if we could take the flare gun (he said Yes), but no to our guns. I politely asked why, since we are law abiding citizens with concealed carry permits. He said, "you can't take a gun as a passenger, unless you're a cop; it's a coast guard rule". I politely said thanks, and he said we could go lock the guns up in our car. Upon exciting, there was another CPZ sign on the "walk-in" entrance, which you see AFTER you buy your tickets and walk around the ticket building.

Well, we said screw it, and we took the truck instead of going on foot. Upon entering the vehicle entrance, there was not ONE CPZ sign anywhere to be seen. On the side of the ticket building where you drive up, they had No Smoking signs, and other items for your information; but not one No guns sign. The same guy from above saw us in the truck, and never said a word. Then the cops fly in! I was like, come on. Ended up it was for an emergency on one of the boats, since they were followed by a squad about 5 minutes later. We went on the ferry, rode over to PIB, and had a great time at Middle Bass Island State Park.

While pondering the situation, I feel very confused. How can they refuse to allow a CHL holder to come aboard when on foot, due to a "coast guard rule", but I can drive my vehicle on board with my gun and there's not a problem? I know this is a gray area since I saw the No Gun signs on the walk-in side, but since there was nothing posted on the vehicle entrance or anywhere else, I felt I was doing no wrong.

Is there such a rule, or is it just some BS statement they came up with to avoid having to say they are anti-gun?

[MuzzleReport]

Guy wasn't even aware of Miller's own policys.

http://www.millerferry.com/about/maritimesecurity.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Q: Are permitted weapons allowed to be carried onboard?
A: No concealed weapons are allowed on Miller Boat Line vessels. Permitted weapons carried in a vehicle, luggage or on a person; must have ammunition separated from the weapon or the weapon must have a trigger lock mechanism in place. This policy will respect your right of a permit and allow for safe transit under the guidelines of the Maritime Security Regulations.

[Birdman]

So................
Open Carry wouid have prevented this confrontation?
Well, maybe if the ammo was removed from said firearm.

[Freddie]

Middle Bass Island is a great place. A lot like Pelee.. just very quiet, relaxing, and laid back compared to PIB.

[MyWifeSaidYes]

Wouldn't the Coast Guard just enforce the laws of the state who's waters they were in, Ohio in this case?

[BobK]

Wouldn't the Coast Guard just enforce the laws of the state who's waters they were in, Ohio in this case?

No. They would enforce federal standards.

[Muad]

Guy wasn't even aware of Miller's own policys.

http://www.millerferry.com/about/maritimesecurity.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Q: Are permitted weapons allowed to be carried onboard?
A: No concealed weapons are allowed on Miller Boat Line vessels. Permitted weapons carried in a vehicle, luggage or on a person; must have ammunition separated from the weapon or the weapon must have a trigger lock mechanism in place. This policy will respect your right of a permit and allow for safe transit under the guidelines of the Maritime Security Regulations.

Now that you mention this, at one point he did say something about having it in a locked box. I asked if unloading a separating the items and showing it to him would suffice, and he said no. That's when he said it was a Coast Guard "rule".

Either way, I think it's funny that on the vehicle entrance, there's nothing about firearms posted. It's only visible when you're walking on board. In the future, I'll just always remember to take my vehicle.

Does anyone know if said "Coast Guard rule" exists? I was thinking of sending a letter to the business, informing them that they are on the OFCC Do Not Patronize list.

[MuzzleReport]

Does anyone know if said "Coast Guard rule" exists? I was thinking of sending a letter to the business, informing them that they are on the OFCC Do Not Patronize list.

I would not poke this particular hornets nest. The Jet Express does not allow you to take a firearm at all unless you declare it and the captain agrees, it is then given to the captain and when you dock he hands it over to the PIB Police Dept.

Miller at least has a reasonable policy and is currently the only way other than private vessels to get a firearm out to the island.

We camp on the island for a week each year so I've made the trip with a firearm in the vehicle several times and never been searched. I've also never seen a walk on searched so I really wonder why they selected you for one.

[Muad]

Does anyone know if said "Coast Guard rule" exists? I was thinking of sending a letter to the business, informing them that they are on the OFCC Do Not Patronize list.

I would not poke this particular hornets nest. The Jet Express does not allow you to take a firearm at all unless you declare it and the captain agrees, it is then given to the captain and when you dock he hands it over to the PIB Police Dept.

Miller at least has a reasonable policy and is currently the only way other than private vessels to get a firearm out to the island.

We camp on the island for a week each year so I've made the trip with a firearm in the vehicle several times and never been searched. I've also never seen a walk on searched so I really wonder why they selected you for one.

As soon as we walked up to the covered waiting area, one of the dock/deck hands asked to look inside by buddy's dry bag (he was carrying two bright yellow dry bags, along with a huge pack on his back; I just had my 5.11 72 hour Rush pack on, along with a small cooler. They asked to search his bag, not mine. I was the one who approached the employee afterwards and politely asked why this rule was in place.

[Javelin Man]

Does the Jet Express have the same policy? No vehicle, of course, but I wonder if I could store it in my bicycle's storage bag.

[Face]

Does the Jet Express have the same policy? No vehicle, of course, but I wonder if I could store it in my bicycle's storage bag.

I think it's a Homeland Security, TSA Policy - I was on a tour boat in Duluth and they had a list of prohibited items that included the dangerous nail clippers and ANY pocket knife - same as an airplane.

[MuzzleReport]

Does the Jet Express have the same policy? No vehicle, of course, but I wonder if I could store it in my bicycle's storage bag.

No their policy is NOT the same from what I remember from the old web site...

The Jet Express does not allow you to take a firearm at all unless you declare it and the captain agrees, it is then given to the captain and when you dock he hands it over to the PIB Police Dept.

The new web site lists no rules at all as far as I can tell.