Retirement Planning & Firarms

[Flame Red]

In a few years I will be retiring, or perhaps earlier when the PHB (Pointed Head Bosses) decide to be rid of me, or my health declines to a point where I can no longer work.

It has been pretty much decided for me that I will be unable to retire in this country because I will not be able to afford it because the company stole my pension back in 98. (Thank you Klinton) Also, I would need a second job to pay for their wonderful health plan if I were to retire before medicare kicks in - if I live long enough to qualify.

I want to retire somewhere warm. Since I cannot afford to buy an island, I have been thinking about Costa Rica (where health case is supposed to be good and affordable) or perhaps some other Central America or Caribbean country.

One of the criteria will be the firearms laws. Where is a place I can find the firearms laws for other countries? My dream is to find a Class-3 friendly country where I could own what I wanted without paying rediculus prices caused by stupid US government regulations - without having to live on my own private island.

I suppose I woul have to sell everything I own here and buy new since I could not get it out of the US.

Any suggestions where to research this question?

 

[The Annoyed Man]

I don't know anything about their firearms laws, but a former coworker of mine who is Filipino once told me that lots of old Navy, USMC, and Army vets retired to the Philippines. Apparently, in the Philippines, a Social Security pension is enough money to own a very nice large house with a couple of servants to cook and clean for you. If you have additional pension income, such as military or work pensions, then you could be sitting in tall cotton. My friend DID tell me that he owned an AR-10 when he still lived there.

I don't know if that's true or not, but it might be once place for you to look. Another thing that you ought to really consider is the political stability of the countries you are considering, the state of their relations with the U.S. (which will effect your receipt of retirement payments), and whether or not you, as an American citizen ex-pat, would be well received by the local citizens.

 

[mpmarty]

What hobbies/sports are you interested in? Belize is a great place if you like to scuba and fish. Fifty thousand in their bank makes you a citizen and their language is English. They were formerly British commonwealth.

 

[CWL]

You need to contact the embassy or consulate of the countries you are interested in retiring to, they will have the most accurate and up-to-date info.

 

[leadcounsel]

The US gun laws may change dramatically after the Supreme Court decides Heller.

 

[scrat]

that heller case may be a while. especially when the replaced the attorney. my guess is a long delay tactics.

 

[Ed Ames]

If I was planning to do that I'd make myself a short list by whatever means but there is no way I'd actually move to any place (other country or other state) without spending a few weeks/months in each of my top choices.

Belize may be great as far as one person is concerned and horrible from another person's perspective. Same is true for any potential retirement destination including Florida.

 

[spwenger]

Contact Me Directly...

...about a decade ago I had the opportunity to get a bunch of information about Costa Rica's firearm laws because my former teaching partner was interested in retiring there. Most of the information I got was pretty favorable. At the time I was told that firearms were fairly expensive there (~$2000 USD for a new Glock pistol) due to high import duties but failed to get an answer to my question about whether you could legally import your own firearms on moving there. I think it may have been just around the time of that last question that I lost contact with my correspondent there, who was commissioned as a lieutenant colonel in the National Police (Costa Rica has no army.) The information was favorable enough that I might have considered reitrement there myself (I already speak the language fluently) were it not for the fact that I can't stand tropical climates.

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