In America, we love our guns and proudly bring them into every establishment we possibly can, like restaurants or airports. Some of us will even drive around with a missile in our front seat, just because we have the freedom to do so.

Unfortunately, American citizens and military members cutting through Canada don’t have that luxury.

Steven Fetrow-Keihl, a major in the U.S. Military Police Corps, was on his way to his new posting in Alaska when his vehicle was inspected by Canadian border partrol. Fetrow-Keihl didn’t declare any firearms, but admitted to carrying several in his trailer when questioned by inspectors. Among the guns found in his trailer were two loaded handguns prohibited in Canada.

“It’s not unusual, unfortunately, for American citizens to attempt to cross our border with their weapons,” Canadian attorney Erin Magas said of the case. “If they were Canadian citizens, they would likely be looking at time in the penitentiary … Many of them don’t understand until they actually get picked up at the border how serious we take firearms in this country.”

Magas said the court gave Fetrow-Keihl a lenient sentence because he was traveling with his daughter. That meant removing potential jail time and upping the standard $5,000 fine to $15,000.

To his credit, Fetrow-Keihl admitted that he was following “bad advice” from a friend who suggested not declaring any of his weapons and paid the penalty.

This isn’t the first instance of a military member or veteran getting in trouble with Canada’s border patrol. In 2014, a military veteran was nearly sent to jail for three years for bringing a loaded handgun across the border. Luckily, the veteran was acquitted of all charges.