Musk Slams US Arrest Of Briton With Gun
MIAMI, United States (WHN) – Technology executive Elon Musk has condemned the federal arrest of a British tourist in Florida, offering to fund the man’s legal defense after he was charged with illegally possessing a firearm while visiting the United States on a non-immigrant visa.
Christian Bentley, 46, was taken into custody by federal agents last week. He faces charges under a statute that largely prohibits foreign visitors from possessing firearms, court documents confirmed.
Musk entered the debate over the weekend. In a series of posts on his social media platform X, the Tesla CEO called the situation “insane” and argued that Bentley was unaware of the complex U.S. firearm regulations that differ significantly from those in the United Kingdom.
“This is not right,” Musk posted. “A tourist from a country with very different laws who is not a criminal should not be facing a decade in prison for a paperwork violation.”
Bentley’s arrest occurred outside a Miami-area hotel. Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) acted on a tip, according to a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
A search of Bentley’s rental vehicle produced a 9mm pistol and a box of ammunition, the complaint alleges.
Federal law, specifically 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(5)(B), makes it unlawful for any person who has been admitted to the United States under a non-immigrant visa to possess a firearm or ammunition. Bentley was reportedly in the country on an ESTA visa waiver, which falls under this prohibition.
A statement released by Bentley’s legal counsel argues he purchased the weapon for self-protection. The statement claims Bentley was the victim of an attempted robbery days earlier and was advised by a local acquaintance that purchasing a firearm was a legal right for personal safety.
He was unaware of his ineligibility as a foreign national, his lawyer stated. Bentley reportedly believed the Second Amendment applied to everyone on U.S. soil.
Musk has pledged to cover all of Bentley’s legal fees. “No sane person would think this is a good law,” Musk wrote, arguing that it “makes no sense” to imprison someone who was not intending to commit a violent crime.
The U.S. Attorney’s office in Miami has not commented publicly on Musk’s statements. A spokesperson for the office reiterated that they are committed to “enforcing the laws enacted by Congress.”
The case highlights a frequent point of confusion for international visitors. While federal law sets the baseline, state laws on firearm possession vary dramatically, creating a difficult legal landscape for those unfamiliar with the overlapping jurisdictions.
Conviction under the federal statute carries a potential maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The charge against Bentley is a felony, which would also result in immediate deportation following any prison term.
Bentley is currently being held in federal custody pending a bail hearing. That hearing is scheduled for later this week, according to the court docket.
