[natedog]

Just curious about gun control laws in other countries. What are the most gun-friendly nations?

[BowStreetRunner]

i hear the gun control in Antarctica is not too bad
JK
seriously....there seem to be a number of guys from Norway here....and they (Norway) seem to be pretty cool about guns
BSR

[WonderNine]

I hear the gun control in Antarctica is not too bad

:scrutiny:

:D

[Nightcrawler]

Countries I know of with a large number of armed citizens are:

-Norway
-Finland (largest (per capita) number of registered and unregistered machine guns in the world, IIRC)
-Israel
-Iraq (had a pretty healthy gun culture; especially understandable if you're a Kurd.
-Afghanistan (everybody's packing over there)

Couldn't tell you what the actual gun LAWS are like in any of these places, except that in Afghanistan you're not allowed to openly carry an AK-47 in Kabul since the US took over.

[Skunkabilly]

Thailand, Philippines and Hungary?

I want to visit Norway!!

[Bonker]

I read someplace that Sweeden only has one gun law. You can't own more than 25,000 rounds of ammo. That's it!
I always wonder why crime is so low in Sweeden :)

[DrPsycho]

New Zealand?! I remember growing up there my dad had a rifle and handgun no sweat.

[HS/LD]

New Zealand.

More guns per capita than the US...

Strangely enough, the firearm murder rate is much much lower than the US.

Regards,
HS/LD

[Tamara]

Nope, Sverige has gun laws roughly comparable to, say, New Jersey.

Permission slips needed to buy any gun, and you can pretty much forget CCW.

Sweden has a low crime rate because it has a high standard of living, a well-educated populace, a culture that encourages conformity and responsibility, low population density, and is largely ethnically homogenous. Pretty much the same reasons Minnesota has a low crime rate. Japan, too, for that matter (well, except for the "low population density" part.)

[WonderNine]

New Zealand.

More guns per capita than the US...

Strangely enough, the firearm murder rate is much much lower than the US.

Because they don't have a "War on Drugs"?

[New_comer]

Here, civilians are allowed to own one long gun (22LR rifle or 12 ga shotgun only) and one handgun (9mm, 38sup and smaller). A machine gun in 22lr only is also allowed (Calico for instance). No miltary rifle calibers allowed. :(


To own more than the first two, or any of larger, more powerful handguns (357mag, 40S&W, 45ACP), the law simply requires us to join a gun club. That's it.


Then the fun begins... :D:D:D


Too bad, our right for concealed carry outside the home was recently disallowed. I just hope and pray things will work out for the better, and this important privilege restored. ;)

[CZ-100]

-Finland (largest (per capita) number of registered and unregistered machine guns in the world, IIRC)

COOL!! I like that. :D

[geekWithA.45]

Skunk...Hungary has no RKBA.

You've gotta do NJ style background check and fingerprints for an air gun, and that's the best you can do.

I took my Hungarian friends shooting when they were here. They had a blast, despite their bafflement at the fact that I had a small armory.

[M67]

Well, Antarctica has been mentioned... The Norwegian territory of Svalbard (half way between the mainland and the North Pole) is the only place I know of where you actually run the risk of being arrested if you don't carry a gun. Anyone going outside the settlements is required to bring a gun, or an armed guide. Some years ago (unarmed) German tourists earned the nickname "bear snack".

On a more serious note, the question is about "gun-friendly" countries. As a country I think Norway is quite a bit more gun-friendly than the US. Do I have your attention now? I don't mean the laws, they are stricter than in many of your states, although better than in some. We have a different approach than you in many ways, there is actually a degree of common sense involved in our laws - no, I'm still not crazy about our gun laws, but it could be worse.

But I think "gun-friendly" has to do with more than just the laws, it is also a question of attitude. I think shooting as a sport is more accepted among non-shooters here. We have some idiots here too, of course, but guns and shooting isn't really a political issue here as it is in the US. The Norwegian rifle organization, something along the lines of your CMP, has a membership that includes more than four per cent of the population. The organization is sponsored by the .gov, it currently receives one tenth of a per cent of the defence budget, I think. In the last budget discussions the continued support was secured by the Labour Party... To put it in perspective, try to imagine an NRA with 12 million members receiving $380 million a year from the gummint. :eek:

Where I live, in "soccer-mom country" outside Oslo, the local newspaper routinely runs full page stories in the sports section with headlines like "12 year old fired perfect score in rifle match". And speaking of newspapers, as I have mentioned in one or two posts, I work for a major media corporation, more specifically the country's largest newspaper, and we have a state-of-the-art shooting range in the basement. :D

And we hunt. Nearly 400,000 Norwegians (and 10,000 foreigners) are registered hunters, in a country with less than 4.5 million people. Some counties practically "close down" during moose season, there is no reason to keep offices and stores open because both the customers and those who work there are out hunting anyway.

Skunk, you're welcome. We're pretty tolerant over here, Americans, Chinese-Americans, Californican-Americans, doesn't matter. Even Carbon Fiber-Americans... :D

PS: No carry except in very, very rare cases. OTOH that includes the police. We have a gun ownership rate comparable to that of the US, and we have an unarmed police. Not like in Britain where they have unarmed flatfoots and armed "special" units. Here all officers, including "SWAT", are unarmed unless a specific job requires them to bring guns, in which case all officers are trained in the use of firearms. They currently use MP5s with S&W revolvers as backup.

[themic]

New Zealand: not too terribly bad.

http://www.shootingnz.com/laws/faq.htm

requires a license but it's not much more than an NRA-type safety quiz.

I don't know about carry, though.

[amprecon]

I can't believe that the most notorious gun-friendly country wasn't mentioned.....Switzerland.

[CWL]

Last time I was in Cambodia, AK47s were going for US$100-200 each in downtown Phnom Penh. Although the police will get pissed if you let rip a full mag into the air...

In outlying Pakistan, you can get any weapon or copycat for $100-200.

AKs used to go for $100 in Romania, SKs were cheaper.

Thailand has gun control laws, based on your net worth and your ability to pay off the police.

Along the Myanmar-Thai border, weapons are fast & loose.

East and West Africa and Angola have thriving arms bazaars nowdays with AKs sometimes going for ~US$50.

Switzerland has mandatory gun ownership (tied to national militia), but impossible immigration laws.

Actually, the USA is one of the most gun-friendly nations. Most other countries which weapons are freely available have non-working police & judicial systems.

[longeyes]

I noticed quite a bit was made of the difference in cultural attitudes between Sweden and Norway regarding guns in the film (original version) of INSOMNIA. The Swedish cop was suspect because he brought a gun with him. Can you throw some light on this?

[Chris Rhines]

The Czech Republic has few (maybe no) gun control laws.

- Chris

[Thundercleese]

Keep it coming. This thread is fascinating.

The Sweden thing has me puzzled. 1 gun law? Aren't they MASSIVELY socialist, with a 90+% income tax rate?

[Tamara]

As I posted above, Bonker's info on Sweden was incorrect.

[Skibane]

Certainly not Japan!

Guns subject to regulation include:
•Air Rifles – requires police lecture, certificate, letter of recommendation.
•"Hand Rifles" (essentially air pistols with a rifle stock and long barrel sleeve permanently attached to discourage concealment) – same requirements as air rifle.
•Air Pistols (limited to 500 people in the entire nation, for sports shooting only).
•Pistols (limited to 50 people in the entire nation, for sport shooting only).
•Shot guns — Requires shooting course, background check on your family, lots of police paperwork to obtain permission to purchase the gun, gun must be presented to the police for "stamping".
•.22 Caliber Rimfire Rifles – only allowed for target shooting, require long-term memberships in several gun clubs, lectures, certification of shooting skill, etc.
• Centerfire Rifles – Only bolt-actions are allowed , and only for target shooting and hunting – require ownership of a rimfire rifle first, 2 years participation in .22 shooting events (10 years for hunting purposes), mostly the same paperwork, background checks as for .22 caliber.
Buying ammo requires written permission from the police, limited to 800 rounds stored at home, 4,000 total.

[Mark Tyson]

Norway is looking better and better to me!

[NonServiam]

Nope, Sverige has gun laws roughly comparable to, say, New Jersey. Permission slips needed to buy any gun, and you can pretty much forget CCW.

Pretty much like Norway. The same applies here. Slightly more relaxed than Sweden, though. Sorry to burst your bubble guys, but Norway is no gun-paradise. Faaar from it.

The Swedish cop was suspect because he brought a gun with him.

As M67 mentioned, Norwegian cops are generally unarmed. Swedish cops are armed. Big difference in cop-culture. Not so big a difference with respect to private ownership.

[M67]

"Nope, Sverige has gun laws roughly comparable to, say, New Jersey."
"Pretty much like Norway. The same applies here." As far as registration and permissions there are similarities. But when it comes to gun culture, I think there are some differences. Although I have actually been to New Jersey, I don't know anything about the local gun culture except what I have picked up around here or other gun related web sites. I think shooting sports and hunting is more accepted here. And I think it is easier for a Norwegian to buy for example an "assault" rifle with a 14 inch barrel and standard capacity magazines. And you don't have to ask anyone for permission if you decide to cut a couple of inches off the barrel and/or put a suppressor on it. And we don't have any silly laws on where you can go with your guns. If you are legally transporting your guns (unloaded in a case or bag) and you for some reason have to stop at a public building like a school or courthouse or whatever, you are actually required to bring the guns inside - it is illegal to leave them unattended in your car.
Norway is no gun- paradise. Faaar from it. Anyone looking for Paradise on Earth will be disappointed. There are a lot of things that could be better in Norway, gun related and otherwise. But it isn't all that bad either, and we have to be careful about complaining and bitching too much. Things are not perfect, but that's the case everywhere else as well. Generally Norway is a better place to live than just about anywhere else in the world. Personally, I could probably move pretty much anywhere in world, at least temporarily, if I had an interesting job offer or other reason to go. But I do not feel the need to go anywhere, and that includes the US, in order to gain personal freedom. I'm not saying that Norway is better than the US, but we're not any worse either. We are somewhat less than perfect in slightly different ways. I tend to try to make a point of the positive things in my posts, because if I did the opposite, all those 'murricans would just find justification in their belief that all Europeans are a bunch of oppressed communists, and that certainly aint true. Which brings me to:

Thundercleese: Sweden (or Scandinavia in general) isn't nearly as socialist as most Americans think. Yes, Scandinavians pay a bit more tax than Americans, but not that much more. And if you think taxes are immoral, it doesn't really matter whether you pay 25 or 35 or 45 per cent, does it? That would be like saying it is better do die from cholera than to die from the plague. We are capitalists - Scandinavians have the highest standard of living in the world - even after we have paid our taxes. You can say whatever you like about socialist countries, but they do not have a high standard of living.

CWL: Switzerland does not have mandatory gun ownership, they have mandatory military service, like a number of other European countries. The reservists keep their gear, including personal weapons, at home. So does the militia/home guard/national guard of a few other countries. Those guns are govt. property. As far as civilian gun ownership in Switzerland is concerned, I think their laws are among the best in Europe, but there is still licencing and registration, and the Swiss being Swiss, they are probably running a tight ship in that department as they do with everything else. Very orderly and organized people, the Swiss. In places like Switzerland and Scandinavia, we are not as concerned about that as you Americans might think. We tend to trust our governments. Not because we are stupid or brainwashed, but because we have had very good experience with the consept of government by the people, for the people for the past couple of centuries, and we keep our politicians on a pretty tight leash. We are not worried about black helicopters, and in my humble opinion we have no reason to be, not as far as our own governments of today are concerned anyway. The future, and foreign enemies, al-Qaida, communist dictatorships and the like, may be a different question.

longeyes: I haven't seen that film, so I can't answer your question. But film makers being what they are, you can probably assume that they know about as much about guns as their colleagues in Hollywood. :rolleyes:

Ah, another VLBP (Very Long and Boring Post). But it's a free world, sort of. If you've read this far, you have only yourself to blame. :D

[Russ]

Antarctica hands down. If the Penguins and Polar Bears don't care, neither should you.

[mercedesrules]

Somalia is very free and has a growing economy.

(CWL) Actually, the USA is one of the most gun-friendly nations. Most other countries which weapons are freely available have non-working police & judicial systems.

So, they have three things going for them! :)

MR

[igor]

-Finland (largest (per capita) number of registered and unregistered machine guns in the world, IIRC)

Sorry, not quite so. Scrap "unregistered" and "machine", then we have it right.

Other than that, very similar living all thru Scandinavia. M67 very eloquently described our pretty much common view on life, society and firearms. Predictable, avoidable violence within the culture, an open political discussion with real, functioning democratic control on the powers that be, a very safe environment, no inner cities, no class segregation, literacy at 100%, no structural corruption, a generally sane and natural attitude towards firearms, hunting and military reserve training. I've tried to relate some of that earlier but never really gotten my point across. Takk for hjelpen!

I've lived in Norway too and can relate with their experience. Our cops are always armed, though. In both countries they are quite able to both listen to and talk with their employers.

[longeyes]

Regarding INSOMNIA, I think it had to do mainly with unarmed cops in Norway vs. armed cops in Sweden, that cultural difference. The film is a good one, by the way. Recommended. Interesting to watch it back to back with the later American re-make (same title, Al Pacino). Many differences, subtle and not so subtle.

[Skunkabilly]

Do people in Scandanavia think, like [many, not all] Americans, that women shouldn't have guns or else they will be taken away and used against them?

[Nando Aqui]

New Zealand?
I am not sure about that. I spent a week there about 20 years ago, and I was told that it was not as easy to own and use firearms there as in the USA.

I also had visitors from New Zealand here, showed them some of my guns, and they were surprised at how many I had. Back then I had about 10 rifles, shotguns, and handguns combined! One of these was an FN49 (30-06) and they said no way could they have that there.

And from their web site: http://www.police.govt.nz/service/firearms/
=========================
The New Zealand Police are committed to firearms safety and security.

How to obtain or renew a licence
If you are 16 years or over, you can apply for or renew a licence at your local police station. Download the Application for a New Zealand Firearms Licence form. You must apply in person at an arms office.

Bring with you:
Your old licence (if you have one)
Two recent passport style photos
Three documents that prove your identity (passport, birth certificate, drivers licence, Photo ID, credit card/bank card)
Contact details of two referees. One referee must be your spouse or next of kin, the other must be someone who is over 20 years and not related to you. You will need to provide their full name, address, date of birth and phone number.
Post Shop receipt for fees.
Application fees payable at a Post Shop (incl GST) are:

A Category - $123.75
D Category - $200
D Category (Gun Show) - $50
Endorsements - $200
T Category - $25 for 12 months

===============================

Perhaps not so good?

[fallingblock]

New Zealand is rapidly taking itself down the firearms prohibition path.

After some sixty years of full registration, the N.Z. Police reccommended in the early 1980's that registration be scrapped as useless and a 'lifetime' shooters licence be introduced instead. The price for mine was $35. After a high-profile 'mass' shooting by a disaffected loner in the seaside community of Aramoana, the government did away with the lifetime licence and went to a ten year licence, part of the application process is a visit by police to your home and interviews with family menbers about whether they consider you to be suitable for firearms ownership.
Handguns are very strictly regulated and membership of a target-shooting club is required. No carry is allowed.
The present government is on the verge of reintroducing full firearms registration, despite the Canadian experience and N.Z.'s own past experience of registration as being a costly, time-consuming waste of resources, useless for crime prevention or solving crimes already committed. There are indeed a lot of rifles and shotguns scattered throughout New Zealand, and the firearms-involved crime rate is near the lowest in the world.
The Clark Government has several hoplophobic zealots within it , such as Police Minister George Hawkins and Disarmament Minister Marian Hobbs, as well as absolute paranoid anti-gunners Phil Alpers and Thomas Thorpe urging them on to banning firearms ownership to the greatest extent possible.:barf:
So, I would suggest New Zealand be put in the category of "Formerly gun-friendly Nations" for now.

[Art Eatman]

It's been 18 years since I was in Costa Rica, but I was pleasantly surprised to see an ad in the "Tico Times" newspaper of a Ruger Blackhawk for sale.

The doctor I was visiting commented about guns in general, "You want a gun? Go buy a gun."

The rice farmers love to have bird hunters come in and help stop those nasty old whitewing doves from eating the crop. And, there is whitetail deer hunting.

The general lack of ownership is probably more from economic reasons than from the law.

That was then; dunno 'bout now.

Still, Costa Rica is an anomalous place. No army; more school teachers than police. 93% literacy rate. They make a fetish of courtesy and politeness.

Art

[MikeK]

I'm glad to see Costa Rica on the list. I've always heard good things about the country. If you need serious medical care - Miami is not far away. God forbid that Hilary makes it in 2008 it may be an option.

I've also heard that 'donating' something the local politicians want will make your life much easier. Though I suppose that's true in any country.

[T.Stahl]

I can't believe that the most notorious gun-friendly country wasn't mentioned.....Switzerland.

...where they recently banned the sale of JHP ammo in handgun calibers, IIRC. :( Did Mussi or any other Swiss member of TFL make it to THR?


Antarctica hands down. If the Penguins and Polar Bears don't care, neither should you.

Sorry, but there are just as many Penguins in Arctica as there are polar bears in Antarctica - that is none. :D

[garrettwc]

I like Art Eatmans suggestion.

Anything besides Costa Rica with a tropical climate. I hate cold weather.

[Mr. Goodglock]

Hello from Thailand!!

Pretty cool gun control here indeed. Normally we have to apply for purchase for every new gun we want to buy then we have to register it to our name. The applicant has to submit recommendation letter from office and bank statement and is subjected to finger print and record check. .45 and .357 are considered too big for the citizen self defense so non LE is usually turned down. Well, normally money can talk. The definitely prohibited guns are:

1. semi auto except .22 and shotgun
2. pistol of caliber bigger than .45
3. pistol with barrel longer than 7 inches

CCW is extremely difficult to acquire. Less than 5,000 has been issued all over the country that around 3 million own guns. The CCW lasts for 1 year and permit an specific gun to be carried. The gun is subjected to ballistic record.

Gun quota cause double price for handguns. A Glock 19 is 11,000 USD and Fed Hydra Shok 9 MM. Para ammo costs 1 USD apiece. Government salary for university graduate starts is around 150 a month while young engineer in private company earns less than 500 USD a month.

We had not been in so bad shape under the mentioned rule BUT since May 29, 03 the Ministry of Interior issues an 6 months order to cancel all CWL and suspend new registration to everybody who has more than 2 gun (yes, he can do this here). The order also prohibits the registration of semi auto shotgun and .22, .45 and .357 magnum. After the order expires in January 2004 we will see what they have more in store. By the way, you would be shock of the violent crimes here.

I did not vote this party. Anybody in gun friendly states who can and want to employ an alien guy with 2 Post grad from UK degree and LE experience please kindly contact me directly at my E-mail. longmonday@yahoo.com

PS Hi Skunk and CWL you guys seem to have some experience of this region. Some American confuse over Thailand and Taiwan. Don’t blame them, most people think NY city is the capital of NY states.

:cool:

[Mr. Goodglock]

.....most Thai people think NY city is the capital of NY states.:p

[Salpalinja]

Sorry, not quite so. Scrap "unregistered" and "machine", then we have it right.

Igor, we have to remember those guns that were hidden right after WWII, to fight the then looming soviet invasion. Now I don't know how many of these caches have been reported to the authorities, but I do know that somebody does know where to find them. The men that were involved are not that enthusiastic to talk about where they were hidden.