Do you avoid going to countries that don't respect RKBA?

Since there is practically no country where I could carry as a visiting foreigner, there isn't much of a practical issue about traveling to restrictive countries. However, I wouldn't want to spend my money in a place which didn't respect the rights of its citizens to protect themselves. For this reason, I made it a point not to buy anything in London, when I had a layover there on my way to Israel.

Israelis, of course, are pretty free to carry weapons. I felt perfectly safe there. I also visited Jordan, where I saw a number of privately owned rifles. I surmised that they must be able to bear arms to at least a limited extent. However, the guns I saw may have been deactivated, so I don't really know.

I doubt that I will ever knowingly visit a place that denies its citizens the right to defend themselves.

Sadly, this means that I won't be able to visit my ancestral home of Ireland. There aren't really any other places that I have much interest in visiting.

I would visit any country or state regardless of gun laws. But, I would not like to LIVE in an anti-gun state here. But, if I found a nice country to live in elsewhere - where the people and culture would be much better than a good deal of the jerks here, then I could seriously live without touching a gun ever again. however, since most of the nice countries coincidentally allow gun onwership...I guess I won't have to worry about that.

Do you avoid going to countries that don't respect RKBA?

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I love to travel. Whether that country I'm traveling to supports gun rights makes no difference to me. I don't travel to other countries with my guns so their stance on RKBA is of no consequence to me either way. I love to visit Britain and Ireland and have been to many other countries that don't support gun rights and I always have a good time no matter where I go, its a vacation just have fun!

I love to visit China I have a Ball when I go there.
As to States--It sucks But I have friends in Philly and I live in NY[soon to move to KY]
Ill go out of my way to NOT do Business with co's in antigun states Nor would I vacataion In say California

two found so far

Costa Rica and Panama restrictive but still allowed. I hear Costa Rica is beautiful too.
http://www.fortliberty.org/2007/07
"Private firearms ownership is the reason that Panamanians enjoy this level of safety and security.

Panama does not have ridiculous laws against carrying a weapon concealed. In fact, if you can legally purchase a firearm in Panama, you are also legally allowed to carry it concealed
"
sounds pretty nice to visit

Hell no. I've travelled all over the Caribbean and I wouldn't have been to any of those places if I was that rigid. But neither do I choose to go to a place I know is nothing but a crime-infested wasteland. Wish to hell I could have carried in South America, though. I'm sure the wife would have felt better, also. But it was the last time I'll ever be there.

deaconkharma said:

...Costa Rica and Panama restrictive but still allowed...

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Although crime is still comparably high, in relation to the average crime rate for a 1st world country, Costa Rica is supposed to be the best-off and most civilized country down there

Hk91-762mm said:

...I love to visit China I have a Ball when I go there...

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Funny. I've never had fun, while visiting Wal-Mart

Stevie-Ray said:

...Wish to hell I could have carried in South America, though...

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There are supposed to be some decent enclaves, there. You could book a pleasant tour of Vinyard haciendas in Mendoza, Argentina where you could get away with all-you-could-eat-drink lodging.
Chile has similar offerings and is supposed to offer a wide variety of gourmet seafood dishes to accompany the white wine, since they're closer to the Pacific

Personally, I only care about American gun regulations. Who am I to say that an ancient country on any continent is doing things wrong. There are people that survived for thousands of years through their own convinctions and beliefs and I wouldn't trample on that or boycott it. That is very anti-American and anti-freedom.

With that being said, I will never give up my gun rights because I am an American living in America. It is a hobby I love and an important part of OUR society.

LOL! Moga buddy - You must sleep with at least one eye open every night!

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I take very seriously the responsibility to provide for my family's personal safety. And yes, I am a very light sleeper.

What snobs some on this board are. Some of us find importance in other pursuits than the number of countries in which we've lived or how highly cultured we perceive ourselves to be relative to everyone else around us. As people, we each have different priorities based on our backgrounds, environment, upbringing, etc. What reason can there be to disparage the value systems of others except to be an elitist? If you like it I love it but for me, as an American, self-reliance is central to my personal identity and is not something that I'll easily relinquish to another, not even for a lovely vacation abroad. Besides, there is plenty of God's beauty right here in CONUS to relish and enjoy under the protection of the laws and customs of the country that I love more than any other.

Moga, apologies if it came across that I was disparaging your choice of whether or not to travel based on your convictions regarding personal security. That is not the case at all - as stated earlier, I have absolutely no difficulty understanding that.
I was just ribbing you about you not wanting to be anywhere without a gun unless there is zero crime. Again, no issue with the statement, just chuckling with you about when would it ever be possible for a man to totally relax and let his guard down, given that anywhere there are people, the potential for crime and conflict exists.
Back on topic, down here there is no RKBA in our constitution, but firearm ownership is licensed once a person can demonstrate that he or she "needs" one. All permits are for concealed carry and you are (strongly)encouraged to keep your gun with you at ALL TIMES - the big fear being that it may get stolen and fall into the hands of a criminal. Civilians are generally restricted to calibers of .38 or lower with the .380 by far the most common caliber in use. Of course the crooks enjoy no such restrictions and 9mm's and .40's seem to be the calibers of choice.
If one has connections or is serious enough to pass a pretty tough series of tests over a period of time, a "sporting license" can be issued for just about any handgun caliber. Owners of estates or upscale residential properties larger than about 20,000 square feet can obtain an "estate license" for a shotgun or rifle.
For the most part, the system barely works, but the caliber restrictions and the fact that the approval process is completely subjective leave many feeling frustrated and denied the ability to protect themselves and their families.
For me personally, I am adequately armed and train/practice regularly, but it took a bit of persistence and a few visits to the police commissioner's office with documented police reports of attempted crimes against me and my business.
I travel to the US a couple of times a year for shopping and business and although initially I briefly feel naked walking around unarmed after being accustomed to CCW at home, I never really feel unsafe. Well, except maybe that one time outside of a Jack In The Box in Los Angeles, but that's another story.

I've never left the CONUS, but I'm starting my Air Force Career, so not only will I be traveling quite a bit, my job IS to keep and bear (and open carry, brandish, and use) arms. I'm looking forward to life after training.

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I do believe that the OP meant "tourism purposes" (or at least non-warzones) when he was talking about "going to countries". IMHO, that means that your brandishing and usage will be limited almost everywhere to the AFB you'll be stationed in, unless you consider places like Iraq and the like as tourist destinations.

TropicalBuzz said:

...when would it ever be possible for a man to totally relax and let his guard down?...

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Just after a divorce and just after entering a cave

To visit yes to live no
I would visit Germany since part of my family lives there and it has interesting customs there.But live there no I would not fit in too well and it has a good amount of crime in city parts.

Chisel Head said:

There are supposed to be some decent enclaves, there. You could book a pleasant tour of Vinyard haciendas in Mendoza, Argentina where you could get away with all-you-could-eat-drink lodging.
Chile has similar offerings and is supposed to offer a wide variety of gourmet seafood dishes to accompany the white wine, since they're closer to the Pacific

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I believe it. Problem was I was in 2 different states in Venezuela. They have done NOTHING to see to it that I come back for another visit and in fact were openly hostile. No apologies to any on here that might live there. That country has nothing I want.

Inexpensive gasoline, perhaps? An aquaintence of mine and her (at the time) boyfriend once visited a reknown island off Venezuela's coast. I forget what it's called. Santa Marguerita or similar? Anyways, the society was quite primitive. Some of the natives were trying to attach one of those corrogated sheetmetal roofs they use to cover their huts with. They couldn't manage even doing that, before this Kluckscheißer German boyfriend of hers got so annoyed that he went over and took control of the project. They got it done, even though they didn't understand one another.
These haciendas, as previously mentioned, are clean, hospitable and modern. The wine is made in a state of the art manner, using modern utensils and scientific procedures. To lodge there would give you the impression that you were in a modern first world country. In fact, many Americans book up trips there

It depends. I haven't done a lot of traveling, but I doubt RKBA would bear heavily in the matter. Most countries wouldn't let you carry anyway, is my guess.

Now crime rate is another story, and is often tied to the citizens' ability to defend themselves. I think I'd be leery of going to England, but that's because of the massive amount of crime and privacy-ignoring measures they've taken.

Until recently I traveled a great deal, mostly to Asia and the Middle East as an EOD, firing range and weapons instructor/advisor. About 10 years ago I bought a rock and roll Steyr AUG at a souk in a middle east country that I visited frequently. The host country had no objections to my pruchase and the gun is stored at the home of a good friend there.

It is a sad day when a military retiree, or any law abiding US citizen for that matter, can own a new fully auto weapon in a foreign country and is prevented from buying one at home.

Do you avoid going to countries that don't respect RKBA?

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IMO my own country of the USA doesn't respect RKBA. So why should I hold it against other countries who also don't respect RKBA? Doesn't make much sense to me.

I got enough of going to different places in the ARMY. I do sometimes go into Kentucky but since I live in Tennessee and about 3 miles from the state line it ain't no big deal.

I try to avoid the states that don't let me carry!

Not so worried about the countries since I'm either there on work and don't travel much for leisure.

thought I'd search to find and resurrect this thread

Why? I made my case in this thread awhile back and it was inferred, that those of us that would not visit other places due to RKBA issues were small minded etc.
One word.
Mumbai

ok back to our regularly scheduled program

Well well well.. I love visiting the USA... though I cannot carry there... I do not have as a foreigner any RKBA... but statisticaly my life is much more in danger in the USA than in, lets say, Switzerland or France.. think about it-

thinking and still thinking about it.

I am not sure that the statistics match your statement on danger here vs there. But likewise I can't carry in your country either.
But I appreciate your plight and to fix it perhaps apply for citizenship then And if yours would afford me the same as a citizen I might consider the same.
Also...We here at thr would love to have another pro RKBA citizen added to our voice.

I go to germany, because i have family there. Germany doesn't allow private gun ownership without a LOT of paperwork, and even then, they usually turn you down. Only park rangers and cops can have guns.......