Foreign Travel-gun observations
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Wags
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Being my wife is from Minsk, Belarus when visiting always like to look and see what the Police are carrying. I see a lot of Makarovs and the shorty AK's (Krinkovs). The Police in Russia (Moscow & St. Petersburg) carried the same.
Last year on vacation was in Poland and stayed in a hotel beside the Russian Embassy. The front gate guards were carrying UZI's, no and if's or but's about it. Didn't get close enough to see their sidearms due to they never smiled...... The rest of the Embassy's which we were on "Embassy Row" located on the same street carried a wide variety from my observations.
Same year was in Sicily also. The Policia of course were decked out in Beretta's 92 Pistols, and I can't remember the model number of the sub gun (M-12?) they carried in 9mm. I fell in love with that puppy!
My Middle East trip observations varies: Side arms are mainly Browning Hi-Powers, and long guns range from Krinkovs to AK's to G3's to MP-5's. Just depends which Arab country you are visiting.
Last year on vacation was in Poland and stayed in a hotel beside the Russian Embassy. The front gate guards were carrying UZI's, no and if's or but's about it. Didn't get close enough to see their sidearms due to they never smiled...... The rest of the Embassy's which we were on "Embassy Row" located on the same street carried a wide variety from my observations.
Same year was in Sicily also. The Policia of course were decked out in Beretta's 92 Pistols, and I can't remember the model number of the sub gun (M-12?) they carried in 9mm. I fell in love with that puppy!
My Middle East trip observations varies: Side arms are mainly Browning Hi-Powers, and long guns range from Krinkovs to AK's to G3's to MP-5's. Just depends which Arab country you are visiting.
Nimble1
Member
Mexico
back in the early 90's, my wife and daughter and I used to visit Mexico quite often. I did notice much more gun carry in and about Mexico City than in other areas. As a previous poster stated, the armoured cars bring money to the Cambias were always heavely armed. Rem. 870's , FAL's and such. One interesting site was a policeman carrying a 22 cal subgun. It was the model that was designed by a Mexican gun designer, don't remember his name...pretty neat.
Tom
back in the early 90's, my wife and daughter and I used to visit Mexico quite often. I did notice much more gun carry in and about Mexico City than in other areas. As a previous poster stated, the armoured cars bring money to the Cambias were always heavely armed. Rem. 870's , FAL's and such. One interesting site was a policeman carrying a 22 cal subgun. It was the model that was designed by a Mexican gun designer, don't remember his name...pretty neat.
Tom
I didn't see them on a recent trip, but at one time the Swiss Guards at the Vatican used to have a sort of pyramid shaped box beside them. Tourists joked that it was in case they got short taken. In fact, it held a Beretta pistol and an UZI SMG; they had an underground range at the Vatican and an outdoor range at Castelgondolfo, the Pope's summer residence. Believe it or not, they also were well trained with their halberds and reportedly could use them very effectively.
I don't know what else they have today, but at one time, when not posing for tourists, they were armed and equipped as a Swiss Army heavy infantry company, with K-31's, which they later exchanged for StG 57's, as well as machineguns and anti-tank weapons. They have no illusions about defending the Vatican against an army, but see their mission as delaying an attack enough to give the Pope a chance to escape. That seems unlikely today, to say the least, but it has not always been so, and no one knows what would have happened if the Soviet bloc had ever invaded western Europe.
Jim
I don't know what else they have today, but at one time, when not posing for tourists, they were armed and equipped as a Swiss Army heavy infantry company, with K-31's, which they later exchanged for StG 57's, as well as machineguns and anti-tank weapons. They have no illusions about defending the Vatican against an army, but see their mission as delaying an attack enough to give the Pope a chance to escape. That seems unlikely today, to say the least, but it has not always been so, and no one knows what would have happened if the Soviet bloc had ever invaded western Europe.
Jim
etex
Member
Cancun, Mexico 2 uniformed guys standing guard outside a bank with SKS type rifles. I would guess that a bank robbery is rare in Cancun. 
Old NFO
Member
I used to routinely pass through Rome going to and from sites in Europe. After the 1984 debacle at the airport, Italy decreed that would never happen again. After that time, the guards there were always in pairs, carrying FN sub-guns. One guard always had the safety off and his finger ready to hit the trigger. The other guard was always carrying safety on, but ready to go to war. I have seen them spread eagle an entire family for coming in the wrong door at the airport with no apologies or anything else when they let them go... 
I have also seen them clear the terminal in short order when a bomb threat was called and they weren't gentle!
I have also seen them clear the terminal in short order when a bomb threat was called and they weren't gentle!Interesting stories.
I've got one that my good freind told me about a business trip to Greece back in the 80's.
He had some time off to do the "tourist" thing and seeing the local sights. One of the sites on the tour was some kind of ancient olive tree. The tree was loaded with olives. He just reached up and plucked one from the tree, never having seen one outside of a glass jar. In a few moments he catches a kick in the back and is spitting out dirt while being cuffed. The tree was some kind of famous landmark or something. They chided him and turned him loose after they found out he was American. He's tall and of German ancestry. He told me they weren't real fond of Germans.
I've got one that my good freind told me about a business trip to Greece back in the 80's.
He had some time off to do the "tourist" thing and seeing the local sights. One of the sites on the tour was some kind of ancient olive tree. The tree was loaded with olives. He just reached up and plucked one from the tree, never having seen one outside of a glass jar. In a few moments he catches a kick in the back and is spitting out dirt while being cuffed. The tree was some kind of famous landmark or something. They chided him and turned him loose after they found out he was American. He's tall and of German ancestry. He told me they weren't real fond of Germans.
Manila
I have been to the Phillipinnes a number of times. Very strict weapons control from arrival at the airport onward.
There are numerous armed security guards on the streets in front of banks and other financial institutions. They carry an assortment of arms, usually pump shotguns or AR's.
These people may have a sort of uniform on, but they do not look particularly professional. They were certainly in condition white, just collecting a check.
They appeared to be little more than "shoot me first" targets for entry into the bank. Perhaps they offered some deterence, but to me they only provided the impetus to immediately escalate a robbery into a shooting.
I certainly felt no safer in the banks.
CB3
I have been to the Phillipinnes a number of times. Very strict weapons control from arrival at the airport onward.
There are numerous armed security guards on the streets in front of banks and other financial institutions. They carry an assortment of arms, usually pump shotguns or AR's.
These people may have a sort of uniform on, but they do not look particularly professional. They were certainly in condition white, just collecting a check.
They appeared to be little more than "shoot me first" targets for entry into the bank. Perhaps they offered some deterence, but to me they only provided the impetus to immediately escalate a robbery into a shooting.
I certainly felt no safer in the banks.
CB3
LoneStranger
Member
Lorenco Marques, Mozambique 1970, While on a Uncle Sugar vacation cruise. Was enjoying a simple walk around the ports leisure and entertainment district.
Two separate groups of civilian police, all with subguns.
Three separate groups of Military Style police. Subguns, rifles, pedestal mounted MG's in jeeps.
Two separate groups with large nastly looking and violent attitude expressing police dogs.
Please note that none of these separate groups looked to be in anyway associated with the others.
Coming out of a bar in a happy!! mode, I almost stepped on one of these individuals. Try apologizing and backing water in a language you don't speak. Especially when the opposing individual is having a bad day.
Two separate groups of civilian police, all with subguns.
Three separate groups of Military Style police. Subguns, rifles, pedestal mounted MG's in jeeps.
Two separate groups with large nastly looking and violent attitude expressing police dogs.
Please note that none of these separate groups looked to be in anyway associated with the others.
Coming out of a bar in a happy!! mode, I almost stepped on one of these individuals. Try apologizing and backing water in a language you don't speak. Especially when the opposing individual is having a bad day.
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