[Gaiudo]

I have heard many things about the Israeli view on gun ownership and self defense, all positive. I would like to know, however, if any of you have heard about their position on foreigners bringing in weapons. The reason I ask is because I may be going there in the next couple years for some grad school experience, and would like to know if I can take my firearms with me.

I would think that they would be pretty friendly towards Americans and guns, but would like to know some facts on the issue. Also, they have a pretty strong open carry policy (required by all On and Off Duty civil defense force), but how hard would it be to acquire one as a foreigner? Thanks alot.

Gaiudo

[Diesle]

I believe MicroBalrog (from this forum) lives there....


Diesle

[MicroBalrog]

I do.
Gaiudo, let me put like this: the idea of Israel as gun nut heaven is myth.

We based our laws on the British ones. 'nuff said.

[Gaiudo]

Microbalrog...

Outch, thats too bad. Thanks for the info though. So no way to bring in a couple firearms when I go over there, huh? Hoped there was a way to do that without having to try and acquire some over there.

Gaiudo

[MicroBalrog]

Not as far as I know.:mad:

Acquiring guns here would be near impossible, even if you're a citizen.

[El Tejon]

Gai, you forget Israel was founded by socialists from Europe who had never known freedom. Guns are for those that toe the party line.

It's not about guns; it's about control!;)

[Gaiudo]

Hmm....

maybe seminary in Ft. Worth would be a better option... Louisville is also an option... to bad can't learn good Hebrew there.

Gaiudo

[mrstang01]

Hey, but you can open carry in KY!

[HBK]

I no longer wish to travel any place that won't allow me to carry. Too bad that includes California and New York, but I never really cared to go there anyway.

[Gaiudo]

Yup, great reason to head to KY...

As for not going places that won't let me carry, that is one reason I transfered after a year of college in Philadelphia. Even though PA is relatively decent in their gun laws, living within ten miles of NJ, and having to drive through Maryland, New York, DC, (etc... ad nauseum) was enough to make me leave the east for good. A year was plenty for this Tejas boy. Tennessee is kinda quirky still :p but at least its a thousand miles closer to home.

I won't travel to somewhere that doesn't recognize my permit. Kali and Neo Yorkrakovski are decent to visit, but quite simply not worth the hassle.(Though my folks live in Brazil, so sometimes I have to make an exception... :banghead: :cuss: dang socialist countries...


Gaiudo

[seeker_two]

Baylor University (http://www.baylor.edu)

My alma mater. They have a pretty good seminary there....

(Just don't sign up for the basketball team...:what: )

[Diesle]

It seems the the Isreali guns law is rather counter intuative when measured against other social policy there... Does every man and woman still have to join the army at age 18 for 3 years?


Diesle

[MicroBalrog]

It never was like that, men serve for three years, women - for two.

[El Tejon]

Micro, still have the exemptions for the Chen?

[Chen used to have the moniker "we should have gotten married" in Hebrew]:D

[Gaiudo]

Yeah, Baylor is nice, doubt that I will end up going there though. I have alot of friends that are there now. Their Greek and Hebrew departments are much less desirable than their stock of Texas sweethearts.

I was wondering about that Israeli contradition. I thought that they were issuing Uzis to settlers on the West bank? Hey, maybe that was just another ignorant statement that I gulped down way too easy.

Ah, yes, Hebrew monikers. I tried to do that, but then felt like a total poser, so I deleted it. :D But hey, if you really DO know Hebrew, unlike some first year grad student, then by all means!

Gaiudo

[MicroBalrog]

I was wondering about that Israeli contradition. I thought that they were issuing Uzis to settlers on the West bank? Hey, maybe that was just another ignorant statement that I gulped down way too easy.

Technically, yes, they have armories in West Bank settlements, but settlers are a small minority, and they don't OWN these weapons.

[Moparmike]

There isnt really a point in going to a particular state because they let you carry if AND ONLY IF you are going to school. I wish to hell I could carry on College grounds, but law dont allow it. So, here we are.

[p35]

Now I'm curious- I see all these pictures of settlers openly carrying UZIs everywhere, and I just heard about a would be suicide bomber getting shot down by an armed citizen. Are there really that many carry restrictions?

[MicroBalrog]

Again: Settlers are a very small percentage of society, and they do not own these Uzis, but are issued them.

Only around 4.5% of Israelis are licensed to own guns (optimistic number) and that number is decreasing.

[chaim]

From my understanding if you are allowed to own a gun in Israel you are allowed to carry one (the problem is getting permission to own one). Also, there are a lot of semi-official types (Civil Guard) and plain clothes police that you might see also. I think that when you are in the military you are allowed to keep your gun with you when you leave base and go off duty as well. There are a lot of people carrying/possessing guns in official capacities- private ownership happens (and I understand it is a lot more relaxed on that now with the current situation than it used to be) but it is rare.

So no way to bring in a couple firearms when I go over there, huh? A couple is more than most Israelis with permission to own a gun are allowed.


Oh, if you may want to go to Israel to study don't decide against it just because of the gun laws. Israel really is a special place, there is truely no place on earth like it. To be able to study there for a couple years is a truely special opportunity, many who do so never choose to leave.

Heck, even most countries with relatively pro-gun gun laws frown on foreigners owning guns. Even here you have to be a perminant resident to be allowed to own (I think that's the case anyway, or do you have to be a citizen?).

Hey, if you'll be there for a while maybe you could look into how a foreigner joining the Civil Guard is looked upon (probably won't work, but you never know). Members of the Civil Guard are one of the catagories of people allowed to own their own guns.

[MicroBalrog]

private ownership happens (and I understand it is a lot more relaxed on that now with the current situation than it used to be) but it is rare

ROFLMAO!

One of the grounds for a gun license was being an ex-colonel or above in the IDF. They reduced it to captain now.:(


They will only let you buy 50 rounds of ammo (except what you're shooting at ranges). You can buy 50 more rounds when you renew your license.

[Gaiudo]

Chaim...

Thanks for the response. Yes, I am sure that Israel would be a very special place, especially for someone that is studying the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible), and a vacancy at Jerusalem University would probably be too enticing to turn down.

But outch, 50 ROUNDS!! Thats one way to add some money to my quarterly budjet. I lived in Brazil for 8 years, and it was the same deal with only military officers having alot of the access to firearms. Plus the fact that all calibers that weren't handgun or shotgun cartriges were outlawed... nope, no 30'06 or .270 where I grew up. That and the fact that a .38 cartridge was $2.50... thank God for Founding Fathers and people with balls enough to protect our rights!

As for foreigners owning and using guns here in the States, I don't know about the citizen thing, but I am pretty sure that if you have your temporary visa, you can at least bring your own if declared upon entry (when my Brazilian friends come up for whitetail and rough grouse thats how it works.)

Anyways, thanks for the info. Definately still looking into Israel, and will keep hoping that their gun laws loosen up! Especially for your sake, MicroBalrog.


Gaiudo

[chaim]

Micro,

I'm thinking that the relaxation is more along the lines of relaxing the descretionary part of it. You know, the people who qualify but are turned down anyway. I think there is less of that now (i.e. if you qualify you will probably be approved). Still no where near what it should be, and the cost (terrorist activity through the roof) that got them willing to get there isn't really worth it, but it is a start.

[MicroBalrog]

Perhaps. Thousands of people, literally, still got turned down because of their quota. Did I mention the quota?

Me and a couple of people I know have put up a petition for people to download and sign, but it's just getting started, and it will probably fail.