This is to some extent our "dilemma" in most of Europe and especially in Austria - only the far right parties are interested in gun rights (the moderate conservatives only want to protect hunters and dont care for self defense or sport shooting), but they are often not very popular for miscellaneous reasons. So if you are into guns, many people will automatically assume, your are a right wing extremist - which makes it easy for some left wing (and in some cases also right wing) parties to demonize guns and push for new restrictions. Luckily it appears, that they are slowed down a bit this time, but like in the US they are just waiting for the next tragedy to happen to push for further restrictions.
Thankfully it is the complete opposite in the Czech Republic. I was actually very surprised that there were no widespread gun control calls following the
Uherský Brod shooting.
The governing Social Democratic Party (leftist) has quite a few prominent pro-gun figures, which include also head of Parliament's legislative committee as well as former Supreme State Attorney - now a senator - who's direct comment to the Uherský Brod shooting went as far as saying that this shows there are not enough armed people in population as nobody shot back at the crazed gunmen, and continued that the ongoing terrorist threat in Europe (which is minimal in Czech Republic with our 5.000 strong very liberal Muslim population) makes it clear civilians should be armed to be able to defend themselves. And that before the current wave of successful DGUs in Israel.
Although many politicians prefer to talk loud about hunters and sport shooters, everyone is well aware that CCers outnumber hunters 4:1 in the country, so even if the message is hidden between the lines, they very well know who the main recipients of any of their gun-related rhetoric are.
Also the fact that about 20 - 25% of members of Parliament have CC licenses is of great help (some are rumored to carry also during the parliament's sessions).[/QUOTE]
since April this year, it became completely no-issue - not even LEOs with written death threats were deemed to be "in substantial danger".
That is just plain wrong. And who is deciding on the may issue permits? Is it policemen?
Every single policemen I talked to in the Czech Republic has been extremely supportive of civilian gun ownership. I've been told more than once "we are good at coming to crime scene and catching perp, but only after the fact."
In the general population, people who want to carry guns are considered to be "Rambo" and crazy, therefore no party can afford to support the issue.
Well, we don't have non-carry self-defense licenses like you do. It is concealed carry or nothing here. And supporting nothing as means of self defense for law abiding citizens surely won't win anyone political points, even though the general rate of firearm ownership is relatively low.
As for czech gun laws - we all dream of something similar in Austria.
You live in democratic republic. Stop dreaming, start demanding it!
I really hope, future EU-attempts on tightening gun laws will not interfere with your carry permits!
Well, it is true that if the current proposal for ban of semi-auto mean looking guns goes through we will probably not get permits to carry them any more (CC permit for AR 15 is shall issue the same as for compact pistol
). But otherwise it doesn't seem probable - also because nobody in Brussels realizes that this is actually possible here. Maybe now they got a hint when the first Czech response to the proposed Directive was that it is of utmost importance for us to keep our shall issue concealed carry.
Maybe year ago I would not be so optimistic, but right now with what is happening just over the border in Germany, any politician acting against concealed carry in the Czech Republic can as well just resign and retire.
Here it is not viewed as Rambo stuff, lately more as "I am also getting the license once I have more time." [/QUOTE]
Yeah, the Germans in general have some ridiculous sections in their weapons law - your are not allowed to have a knife with more than a few centimeters blade length anyhwere on you or in your car, and you have to get a license to carry pepper spray.
That 9cm knife law works only for Germans, maybe Austrians too.
If you are Czech untermensch, though, it will be confiscated - even if it is a tiny Victorinox. No paperwork involved, of course.
As for your country, I really enjoy hiking in the "Riesengebirge" where the (well known in Austria) childrens story of the giant Rübezahl ("Krakonoš" according to wikipedia?) takes place
It is a great place. It is quite a pickle though when you find out just before a summit that the final part of a track zig-zags Polish border and realize that CCing in Poland carries serious jail time. ... That's a typically Czech problem in Europe, be happy you can't get CC and don't need to deal with something like that
BTW, the Czech gun owner's association just had a "work lunch" with most Czech Members of European Parliament.
These are the guys who made an appeal to European public to
get ready for civil disobedience and not give out assault rifles should the EU proposal be adopted.