Guns in Norway or Sweden...rest of the world. Website?

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Outlaws

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Is there a website with links to various countries gun laws?

I am curious about mainly Norway and Sweden, but would like to be able to find other countries if need be.

I am not so much concerned with taking them there as what the law for the people are.
 
Got no website, but I can give you some info about Sweden:

Lets start with long arms,and the specifications for hunting.
Rifles, along with shotguns are the easiest guns to get here. All you need is to pass a hunting exam to please the licensing authorities. Some semi-autos are banned from hunting, the easiest rule is if it is a military style rifle of a post-1942 design, you cant have it for hunting. That means that Garands, M1 Carbines, AG42 Ljungman, and a bunch of other are legal, while AR15, Kalashnikov clones, SKS, FAL, G3 clones etc are verboten for hunting. Mini-14 and PROBABLY Mini-30's are OK. Do Not use a magazine cabable of holdong more than five rounds when hunting+one in chamber (two or three when hunting bear, go figure :rolleyes: ) This only applies to semi autos. Bolt and lever actions can hold as many rounds as you like. Collapsible stocks and some other features are banned, atleast on semi autos.
Shotguns: The most common are SBS's, although pumps, lever actions and semi autos are legal too, as long as they don't have detachable magazine (sorry, nor Saigas). Also, cant have a collapsible stock, or have a magazine capable of holding more than two shells plus one in chamber. This only applies when hunting, same as with rifles. When you are on the range, and happen to have a spare magazine/mag tube, by all mean swap it! Just don't use it on when hunting...

Other use of firearms besides hunting:
Handguns: Handguns are not allowed for hunting, except for single shot .22 pistols used for shooting badgers/foxes/other underground critters in their lairs, where a rifle would be unpractical. However, while you can't go out with a S&W .500 to hunt with, you can get a permit for using handguns when tracking wounded game. This only means you can use a handgun held on a license for target shooting etc. The normal rules about minimum caliber doesn't really apply here, for instance, you could use a .44 magnum to kill off say moose or bear, even though that particular cartrige is normally verboten to use in a rifle to hunt this particular game with. The authorities assumes that you will use some common sense, and won't kill off a moose with a snub nose .22.

Targetshooting: In theory, I can get a license for just about everything, provided I have a good reason for needing that particular weapon, such as membership in a club that is into submachine gun matches. Yeah, I could get a SMG, if I want to go through red tape. Hell, I could get a machine pistol such as a Glock 18...
Revolvers and semi auto rifles/handguns are easier to get though. Generally, if you want a handgun, you got to join a club where you can practice a particular discipline. You start out by borrowing handguns at the club, and after six months (minimum, though not law), you can get a license for a .22 caliber revolver. After an additional six months, you can apply for whatever you want really...this deal with starting out with a .22 only applies to handguns, rifles OTOH, six months and apply for an M1 if you choose to.

Crossbows, pepperspray, tear gas, stun guns and tasers all require a license to own. Never heard of a single person getting a license for either of those, since with crossbows, you gotta be a member of a club that practices with those. As for ther rest, fuggetaboutit. Won't happen. If you want one, go down to Germany or France, buy it, stuff in back pack and just pretend its raining when walking through customs. They probably wont check your bag anyway. Didn't check mine when I went through customs. Just asked me if I had anything to declare. If caught with less than three cans, it is just a misdemeanor I believe...

I'm a bit drunk as I'm writing this, so feel free to ask if anything is unclear, or if you feel that I've missed something :)
 
This translation is "unofficial" and a new law is expected sometime before the winter but as of today this translation is correct.
Norwegian firearm laws

A short summary of Norwegian gun laws:

To buy a gun you need a permit from the local police chief, and the general rule is that anyone who can show a need for a gun gets a permit to buy (except convicted criminals, people with mental disabilities etc.). What is considered a need is:
- Hunting
- Competition shooting
- Collection
- Pest control
- Inheritance
Self defence/home defence is NOT considered a (approved) need.
You are allowed 1 (one) gun of a spesific type for each need.

Restrictions on type of firearm:
Hunting: No handguns and no guns with "military appearance", specifically any semi automatics not on the "approved list" (first half is competition guns (1 to 13) second half hunting guns (1 to 19). Semiautos in .22 LR and .22 WMR are allowed even if not on the list. Except the Walter G22, which is illegal to buy because of its "military appearance". All manual repeaters are legal in any caliber except, 12.7x99 (.50BMG). Folding stocks are illegal, silencers are legal. You must have a hunting licence.

Competition shooting: You must be member of a gun-club and your club must arrange competition/training in a internationally approved program that allows/uses the gun you want.

Collection: You get approval for a field of collection (ex: American guns made before 1920, guns used by Norwegian armed forces etc.) and can buy any gun that fits in your field. The guns can not be capable of full auto and can not be regularily used.

Pest control: if you have a specific need you can get one or two firearms, usually .22LR rifle or 12ga shotgun.

Inheritance: If the gun is not full auto and not a handgun (and some other exceptions) you can inherit it without having any need. But must be qualified to own a gun (not a criminal, no psycological illness etc.) You are not allowed to have ammunition for the gun.

If you have a semiauto rifle, a handgun or more than 4 guns you must have a approved gunsafe. Guns obtained for one need can not be used for any other need without approval from local police chief. eg. you can not use your competition rifle to hunt deer if your hunting rifle is broken even if they both are .308 bolt actions.

edit: fixed links
 
Thanks for starting this thread, Outlaws, and thanks The Viking and goosegunner for those very informative replies. I was definitely interested in Sweden's gun laws.

I'm curious if anyone knows about the laws in Finland regarding owning guns. I hear they are pretty good about it, nearly as open as the US, but that could just be hearsay.
 
Thanks for starting this thread, Outlaws, and thanks The Viking and goosegunner for those very informative replies. I was definitely interested in Sweden's gun laws.

I'm curious if anyone knows about the laws in Finland regarding owning guns. I hear they are pretty good about it, nearly as open as the US, but that could just be hearsay.
AFAIK, Finland has quite decent laws, full auto is not prohibited, tear gas requires easy to get license, .22 caliber weapons are easy to get, including pistols, crossbows are OTC etc. Better than Sweden I believe.
 
So, based upon the above about Norwegian firearms law, they seem to have a legal disregard for human life?

Our self defence laws are quite good, or at least how they have been interpreted in the last 10-15 years. But you have no (legal) right to carry a weapon (inkluding knives) for defecive purposes in public. While it is legal to use your hunting gun for home protection, you can not write that on your application but you do get a Benelli M3 if you say it is to hunt squirrels. It is like many other tings in Norway: They pretend to rule, and we pretend to be ruled ;)
 
Viking, Goosegunner, what part of Sweden and Norway are you from respectively?

My wife is from Sweden and everything Viking stated is as correct as she told me. She still yells at me when I pack a pocketknife when we travel to her parents. :rolleyes: Her brother owns a G19 as part of his former job as a security officer. He now works at a casino as a pit boss. Had to jump through all kinds of hoops to be able to buy and keep his pistol at home. I made it up to him at Christmas by buying him a Comp-Tac speed paddle holster and mag pouches.

One of her parents' neighbors wants to take me on a moose hunt, but apparently, there are some rules prohibiting foreigners from hunting in Sweden. Viking, do you know anything about that? tak.
 
Viking, Goosegunner, what part of Sweden and Norway are you from respectively?
Southern part, but not southern-most. North of Gothenburg. Small town.

My wife is from Sweden and everything Viking stated is as correct as she told me. She still yells at me when I pack a pocketknife when we travel to her parents. Her brother owns a G19 as part of his former job as a security officer. He now works at a casino as a pit boss. Had to jump through all kinds of hoops to be able to buy and keep his pistol at home. I made it up to him at Christmas by buying him a Comp-Tac speed paddle holster and mag pouches.
Armed security eh. Man, I've NEVER seen any of those. Not armed with handguns atleast, though I'm aware of the fact that they can carry handguns under certain circumstances. Good man for taking a pocket knife. There are some places where I would not go without some kind of means to protect myself. A Glock would be better, but a pocket knife is better than nothing. OT: What kind of pocket knife? :D

One of her parents' neighbors wants to take me on a moose hunt, but apparently, there are some rules prohibiting foreigners from hunting in Sweden. Viking, do you know anything about that? tak.
I don't hunt myself, but I know a bit about the laws. AFAIK, its legal, as long as you are guest of someone, and they just keep an eye on you. A few years back, there were a few Norwegian (or perhaps Italian. Might confuse two different events here) hunters who were hunting some kind of birds up in northern Sweden. They took a few more than their tag limit. And when I say "a few" I mean atleast 200 too many...so a couple of new rules came in place. I can check it out for you. I'll probably have an answer within a day or so. Just a few questions: Does your state require some kind of test for being issued a license/permit to hunt? Would you bring a rifle, or borrow one from your hosts? I'll ask at a Swedish forum for you.
 
But you have no (legal) right to carry a weapon (inkluding knives) for defecive purposes in public.

For self defense.... What about pocket knives? I am talking something like a Case XX two blade style classic pocket knife that is for cutting things and stuff like that. Are things like that considered weapons? Here they are not...until you get into an Airport of Government building.
 
For self defense.... What about pocket knives? I am talking something like a Case XX two blade style classic pocket knife that is for cutting things and stuff like that. Are things like that considered weapons? Here they are not...until you get into an Airport of Government building.
Can't say about Norway, but here in Sweden, the law is...well...tricky. No carrying one for self defence, thats for sure...
 
I'm curious if anyone knows about the laws in Finland regarding owning guns.

From an earlier THR thread, as posted by igor:

In Finland:

- full auto is possible but lots of prohibitive bureacratical hoops to jump

- silencers are accessories, as magazines or, say, slings... environmentally recommendable even

- all firearms ownership is licenced on a "need" basis, including CS, OC and other teargas products

- military reserve sports constitute a "need" for anyone (conscript military, 80% of males serve 6-12 months and remain in reserve until 60)

- OAL minimum of 86 cm for rifles and shotguns renders folding stock rifles and SMG's difficult to licence (a separate "carbine" class might be in the works)

- "CCW" possible only for gas canisters, again on a "need" basis current firearm transportation legislation allows transportation of a concealed firearm with magazine inserted as long as no cartridge is in the chamber! See below, though:

- because of the nature and prevalence of criminal violence in the society, CCW is entirely unnecessary for the time being

- when that situation changes (Estonia just joining the EU, Russian organized crime invading, drug problems worsening, immigration growing etc.), CCW legislation or at least de facto practice can in my experience be made a reality (and seeing to that that chance isn't diminished, active promotion of the shooting culture is the tool as there is absolutely no constitutional RKBA)

- NB that homes are well armed though, no hot burglaries occur!

I'm very well aware that the above presents quite unbelievable or from an U.S. perspective totally alien ideas of our situation and prospects, likewise on the values and political ideas on which current practice is based on. Our geopolitical position and facts of history have made it this way.
 
Armed security eh. Man, I've NEVER seen any of those. Not armed with handguns atleast, though I'm aware of the fact that they can carry handguns under certain circumstances. Good man for taking a pocket knife. There are some places where I would not go without some kind of means to protect myself. A Glock would be better, but a pocket knife is better than nothing. OT: What kind of pocket knife?

He went through training with his company for Personal Security Detail. In other words, armed bodyguard/babysitter. He finally got certified and did a couple of assignments and left for a job in a casino. Bigger better deal.

I always carry a Columbia River K.I.S.S. as my money clip and switch between a Benchmade Mel Pardue or Spyderco Delica as my daily carry. I've only had one problem while visiting Stockholm on my honeymoon. Some Muslim immigrant pegged me as American (wife and I were speaking in English on the subway). He started shouting curses at me and made a bunch of threatening moves in my direction. That stopped immediately when I stood up to get off at my stop. Thank Gawd EVERYTHING is bigger in Texas! :neener: We could have gone hands on, or worse, but I think he was just mouthing off to impress his girlfriend. Kind of hard to mouth off when the object of your insults has to duck to get on or off a subway car. I'm just thankful I had options available at the time.

That was three years ago. Haven't had a problem since.

BTW Viking, my in-laws and wife are from Katrineholm. Is that anywhere near you?
 
Armed security eh. Man, I've NEVER seen any of those. Not armed with handguns atleast, though I'm aware of the fact that they can carry handguns under certain circumstances. Good man for taking a pocket knife. There are some places where I would not go without some kind of means to protect myself. A Glock would be better, but a pocket knife is better than nothing. OT: What kind of pocket knife?

He went through training with his company for Personal Security Detail. In other words, armed bodyguard/babysitter. He finally got certified and did a couple of assignments and left for a job in a casino. Bigger better deal.

I always carry a Columbia River K.I.S.S. as my money clip and switch between a Benchmade Mel Pardue or Spyderco Delica as my daily carry. I've only had one problem while visiting Stockholm on my honeymoon. Some Muslim immigrant pegged me as American (wife and I were speaking in English on the subway). He started shouting curses at me and made a bunch of threatening moves in my direction. That stopped immediately when I stood up to get off at my stop. Thank Gawd EVERYTHING is bigger in Texas! We could have gone hands on, or worse, but I think he was just mouthing off to impress his girlfriend. Kind of hard to mouth off when the object of your insults has to duck to get on or off a subway car. I'm just thankful I had options available at the time.

That was three years ago. Haven't had a problem since.

BTW Viking, my in-laws and wife are from Katrineholm. Is that anywhere near you?
Yeah, those are about the only ones who can carry on a regular basis, along with embassy security and airport security. No CCW for the peons though. I hate the way this country is run some times.
I aint surprised, considering that in the dictionary of the PC-crowd, "Swedish Citizen" means "anyone from any thirdworld hellhole who has ever considered moving to Sweden". Really, you guys seems to get just about all the useful, non fanatic, hardworking people. We get the ones who live on the dole, refuse to learn the language etc.
How tall are you then? :D. I'm unfortunatly short, thin and wiry. Gotta fix the thin and wiry part.
Its not really near me. I live about 370 kilometers from Stockholm, so I've just passed Katrineholm a few times by train. The only claim to fame of the city that I can remember is that our (fortunatly) previous prime minister was born there. Regarding my location: I'll send you a pm if you want too. Not keen at the moment to disclose my location in public.
 
Viking, when that incident took place I was 6'4" and pushing 240#.

Shortly after meeting that guy on the subway, I did meet an Iraqi refugee. Left before the Iran/Iraq war with his family and opened a pizza shop in Stockholm. Great pizza and a wonderful man.

Unfortunately, he only represents a small, SMALL minority of immigrants who are as hardworking and dedicated as the day is long. It's the majority of immigrants in Sweden and the rest of the world who project the bad image and take advantage of government entitlement programs. And they are the ones we have to defend against when we are faced with crime and personal attacks.
 
Built like a tank. Wish I was :(.
I see what you mean, but the brutal reality is that most people coming here prefer to live on the dole. I don't give a damn about what someone color of skin is, as long as they behave somewhat decently, and support themselves if able too. Too bad (for us) that you guys seems to get most of those people...
 
Goosegunner, got to love the pretend to rule / be ruled thing! Is that some kind of an old saying in Norway?

We have quite a bit of the same mentality - probably stemming from the years of Russian oppression before 1917 - but I´ve never seen it so pithily put.

The quote on the Finnish gun laws still largely applies. That thread was quite a while ago, wasn't it? Doing a search with my username will show a couple of more fresh, rephrased versions too.
 
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