Non-Americans what’s gun ownership and use like for you?

I recently talked with a man who lived in Vietnam, and he said that only police have guns and he posted a photo of what he keeps by his bed (a very large machete). I can't imagine being in a place that doesn't allow gun ownership.

I'm a member over on the Walther Forum; we get a relatively large number of foreign folks posting, and that is a question I always ask them.
Moon

Heard that Czech Republic has it pretty good

This will be an interesting thread for me. Whenever I worked with foreign armies, I liked to compare firearm ownership. What is legal and illegal between theirs and the US. The German view of American gun culture was by far my favorite.

Finland used to be great. During last ten years everything has changed. Fortunately old permits and official collector status are grandfathered (including modern full auto, launchers and artillery pieces) and semi auto means just a little more red tape than it used to.

Deer season is nowadays from Sep 1st to Feb15th, which offsets things a bit.

Find Czech citizen "Snajdarek", who lives in Prague and petitions their Parliament on pro-gun policies.

Quite a number of "regular' citizens there acquire the handgun carry permit.

herrwalther said:

This will be an interesting thread for me. Whenever I worked with foreign armies, I liked to compare firearm ownership. What is legal and illegal between theirs and the US. The German view of American gun culture was by far my favorite.

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Was it the stereotypical every American is carrying like its the old west?

Mars5l said:

Was it the stereotypical every American is carrying like its the old west?

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Can't speak to Germany, but when I was in the United Kingdom back in college (which, holy cow, was over a decade ago) that was pretty much the perception. This was before my firearm owning days, and the people that asked the question were amazed that I didn't own a gun much less carry one everywhere.

I visited a gun range in Cluj, Romania. The RO must be present at all times. Legal gun ownership is heavily restricted but you can get the permit. You can have two handguns, both of the same caliber. Ammunition is restricted by amount, though I am not sure how much. The permit allows concealed carry, which is interesting.

Mrs. RKBA said “Yeah, yeah, blah Americans blah blah law blah blah. Just take some gifts to the guy issuing the permit and you will have it quickly if the gifts are nice enough. Anything is possible in Romania with the right gifts.”

Hunting is a thing there and people have hunting shotguns and rifles. I am not so sure on the details of owning those.

Side note:

Romania is a good place to visit as an American tourist. Almost everyone under age 45 speaks some level of English. It is a very outdoorsy place and Cluj is a good choice for hiking in the mountains. Stay at Hotel Platinia or Grand Hotel Italia (both are very good). We have the advantage of 4 RON to 1 dollar, so things are cheap there.

Hungary, a next door neighbor to Romania, is the home of Capandball, one of my favorite black powder arms reviewer/shooters on Youtube. There is a large interest in arms of the American Civil War era there, I was surprised to see the level of enthusiasm they have for all things percussion, including many original pieces.

I don't have a good sense of their gun laws and restrictions though, which could be another story all together.

If nothing else, there are some very good ranges in Hungary. To say nothing of the truly magnificent ones I've seen in Pforzheim, Germany, and Las Gabias, Spain.

I lived in Berlin for about 6 years, when the Wall came down, the Soviet soldiers on the other side of the Wall were selling everything, including AK's I could have bought any number for $10, but getting one back to my apartment or even thinking about getting one back to the US was pie in the sky.

My partner at work and I discussed gun ownership in Turkey often. He grew up in Istanbul, moved to the US for college and is now a naturalized US citizen with a small but growing gun collection.

The Govt. there is primarily concerned with preventing armed insurrection rather than street crime. Shotguns are common and largely unregulated. Handgun permits are obtainable with the right bribe, but many own pistols purchased on the black market. If you are caught with an illegal handgun- and provided you didnt kill anyone- they will usually just confiscate the gun and slap you on the wrist- too much paperwork involved to jam up the carrier.

Centerfire rifles are a different story, and nearly impossible for a civilian to own. Get caught with one and the secret police will likely disappear you.

My buddies father owns a fruit market in Istanbul. He was shot five times by a customer after a disagreement over a melon. He survived, but is now technically disabled. Disabled persons are prohibited from owning any firearms. The shooter served only a few months in jail and had to make a formal apology. His 9mm locally-produced Beretta knockoff was illegally possesed.

After the shooting, my buddies Dad bought his own shotgun and a pistol on the black market. Some time later, he used the pistol to chase off a pair robbers armed with knives. After chasing them across several city blocks, he cornered one of them and held him for the police. When the cops arrived, they confiscated his gun and used it to administer a stern pistol- whipping to the perp. No charges were filed on either side......

Just recently, his Dad had an unintended discharge with the shotgun inside his apartment. No one was injured, but the cops did show up and confiscate the shotgun. He was not charged. He just went and bought another on the black market.

My buddy has a nice Turkish Mauser which his Dad got a kick out of on his last visit. He trained with them in the army there, but they were issued G3s.

As a Brit living in Sweden I didn't have any problem bringing my rifles and shotguns with me when i moved here. I got a dispensation till I passed the hunting Exam. It been no problem getting the rifles and shotguns I've wanted. You can have up too 6 hunting weapons plus guns for Trap, skeet, sporting and rifles for various rifle disciplines . Pistol and revolvers if your into that type of shooting.
We have a different mind set in that we are not consumed with self defense. All my neighbors have guns and I bet they never think that they need a gun for protection. I've never been Into collecting a mass of dross so Instead of quantity I've bought quality.

LaneP said:

Hungary, a next door neighbor to Romania, is the home of Capandball, one of my favorite black powder arms reviewer/shooters on Youtube. There is a large interest in arms of the American Civil War era there, I was surprised to see the level of enthusiasm they have for all things percussion, including many original pieces.

I don't have a good sense of their gun laws and restrictions though, which could be another story all together.

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One of my favorite YT channels.
Dude is really cool and a pretty darn good shot with those old guns.

I heard him mention once in a video that their government was trying to make it where black powder firearms would have to be registered like any other firearm, and he was talking about writing the legislators there about it. I guess it didn't pass since that was a good while ago IIRC.

Mars5l said:

Was it the stereotypical every American is carrying like its the old west?

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In a way. Most of the German units I worked with, especially the GSG, were envious of the gun laws in most of America. According to them, states have the perfect system of living where you want based off firearms. Want them? Live in Texas or similar state. Hate them? Live in NY or California or Massachusetts. They particularly liked talking to anyone who owned a .45ACP firearm. Their opinion of the 45 is how most people feel about super calibers here like 10mm or 44Mag. While most people in the German military can own firearms out of uniform, the process is difficult compared to most places here.