Would you take a 2-3 year hiatus from gun ownership for a lot of money?

[candr44]

Atek3, it sounds like you are not married or have children. If that is the case, go overseas and work and enjoy the experience while you have the freedom to do it. Also, if it is a good career move do it. You will need a good career that payes well when you do have a wife and kids to support.

I went overseas to work and made a lot more than I would in the U.S. I had no cost of living or taxes and saved more money in 3 years than I did in 10 years of working in the U.S. I also ended up meeting my future wife in Asia and now we have a 5 year old daughter who already has her college tuition more than payed for.

The experience is far more interesting than the 9 to 5, rush hour traffic, work like a slave to pay the bill and tax collector jobs. A lot of the expatriates you meet are also more interesting people and have experiences that others only read about or see on TV.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

It sucked when I was stationed overseas not being able to pursue my hobby. However, it's a small sacrifice. I would do it if I were you.

Keep in mind though that some places you will have more freedom than others. Research it and keep that in mind if the money and the location are similar. Even being able to shoot an air pistol at a local league is better than nothing.

 

[PlayboyPenguin]

In my opinion it would be kind of silly to ruin your entire professional career and lessen the quality of the rest of my entire life over a couple of years in a non-gun friedlt location. I think I would weight the odds of anything happening to me and take the chances.

 

[CannonFodder]

I may actually be faced with this dilemma. I'm applying for a job in France for next year, which means that for 6 months to a year, I'd be separated from my firearms.

The prospect of leaving my firearms in storage does not appeal to me. The prospect of having an adventure on the French government's dime does appeal to me.

I am not thrilled about this conflict of interests... but I can stand to leave my guns in good hands in exchange for a life-changing experience. In fact, the one thing that would irk me the most is the idea that my guns would go used during that time - they've given me too much enjoyment to let them lay dormant.

By the by, if anyone has any information on how someone might be able to bring a firearm onto French soil legally, I'm all ears.

 

[carpediem]

Several year hiatus (btw, nice word choice) for the opportunity to earn a lot more money. Sounds like college.

 

[The Real Wyatt]

Life comes with NO guarantees

Live each day to the utmost.
To live today for a promise several years down the road, nah ... not for me.

 

[aguyindallas]

I personally would not allow my residence to be off of U.S.A. soil, thats just me, regardless of gun ownership status, its just not going to happen.

So, that leaves me NYC and Boston. I dont want any "more" city than I already have in the Dallas area, so I just dont see myself in those cities either...again, regardless of gun ownership status. I have enough traffic and hustle/bustle in my daily life as it is.

Thankfully, my job is lucrative enough and the great news is that its right here in Texas, where I carry my guns everyday!

 

[armedpolak]

My $.02

I lived in NYC after college for almost 3 years. 6 months ago I fell head over heals with guns! Month ago I moved to Fort Lauderdale, FL. IN a big part because of my passion for guns.

As far as job goes, I thought the same thing. NYC seamed like the only place to work for me. I've been working there for a data conversion / litigation support company as software developper, then I moved onto downtown next to Wall St. doing financial software development for another company.

I don't know what you're into. But if it's IT / computers / programming, then www.dice.com does wonders! I KID YOU NOT. I found 2 jobs like this. 10 Months ago I got fedup with my first job, so I posted my resume there. 2 months later I was working on Wall ST. Then I wanted guns, lots of guns , so I posted again. Now I'm in Fort Lauderdale working as a software developper for a very large software company. Miami I hear has a lot of jobs to in IT department.

If you need contact, I have # to some good head hunters here in Florida, one of them found me the job I have right now, private message me if you need help finding a job in IT. And I love it. I got 2 guns in last 3 weeks. I got CCW permit in 6 weeks. And I'm at the range every other day... which takes care of my paycheck

As a final thought... I did enjoy NYC for a while. Until I understood that there are more important things in live than making a ton on $$$. There are guns! And as far as pay goes, I did took a cut moving down here. But, it was 5K, any my state/city taxes in NYC were around 8K. Do the math

P.S. It's never 2 - 3 years. Things happen. You might get married in the mean time. Whatever. Find what makes you happy, and do it. 2-3 years is after all, 3% - 4% OF YOUR LIFE !!! No money will pay for that. But that's just my take on it.

 

[Soap]

Yes. Absolutely yes. Guns are just a very small part of life in my opinion. Rights on the other hand, are a major part of life. Being more financially stable and being an affluent member of any given community will put you in a better position to defend and promote rights such as gun ownership. Thus, by making yourself stronger, you also make your political clout stronger, even if it means sacrificing those rights in the short run. Rights/seriousness aside, it will be great to see the world once you get out of that crappy little school in Hanover After I graduate from grad skool I'm planning on moving to one of the places you mentioned or the Bay Area.

 

[blackedoutharley]

If the long term benefits are worth the short term risk of not being able to be armed and you get to experience a far away land and culture, go for it!

Besides, you are more likely to be harmed on you motorcycle than by violence and perhaps less so now that you dont live in California anymore.

Can you say "BARFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF" ?

 

[strambo]

Have fun, send us a postcard.

 

[michaelbane]

I'd pass on the opportunity, thank you...

I wouldn't do it. My freedoms are more important to me. Earth isn't going to veer off course and collide with the sun because I didn't jump on the opportunity.

 

[RNB65]

No. But that's just me. YMMV.

 

[Mannlicher]

its a no brainer. Get your passport ready, and take off. I don't understand your hesititation.

 

[Rich K]

NO

 

[lionking]

I say go.....guns are not the only important thing in life.It may be a passion like all of us here but in the end the experience both in travel and bettering yourself will be more rewarding.Then come back and build your collection even bigger.Money might not bring happiness but it certainly brings security.

Trust me,being in financial hardtimes is not "fun".Im doing the opposite of you soon.Selling the house,quit working for a couple months,after years of go to work come home do it again.... and travel with some of my equity.Start over in a new place with a better financial situation where I will be able to add on to my collection.I could buy more guns instead of travel but its a big world to see!For me,seeing things,experiencing things is valuable in life.

I still remember my english teacher in school say...if you can,travel while you are still young,you'll enjoy it more.


but...if it were France,well maybe not! lol!

 

[Majic]

Why give up ownership? A firearm stores rather well for many decades if treated properly for the storage.

 

[10-Ring]

Funny how 3 years turns into 6, turns into 10...and HK (took me a few minutes to think of Hong Kong & not Heckler & Koch! ) turns into Dubai turns into Shanghai next thing you know, you've got roots down somewhere you didn't plan on and you have comp'd beliefs.

 

[Zen21Tao]

My recommendation is to go where you can make the most money intitally. I am in an MBA program and am hearing day in and day out that the salary you start at will "set the stage" for your future salary. It established the basline from which all future salary negotiations begin. Consider a few years in gun exile as an investment in a future arsenal.

 

[camacho]

Do it! It is worth it!

 

[Panthera Tigris]

I might, but in today's world there's no way I'd move anywhere overseas being an American. More unsafe than anyplace here.

 

[No_Brakes23]

In the U.S. I would consider the ramifications of illicit behaviour and weigh that against my personal safety.

For London, I would take the chance if I was single. Dubai, not so much, but it is certainly worth a visit. HK gets on my nerves, but there is enough anglo-centric culture left over from British rule that you can get by. Shanghai, I don't know about.

I say go for London, so you can go for a ride and stop at the famous ACE cafe. You owe it to yourself as a rider

 

[lathedog]

I'm doing that right now. It sucks sometimes.

However, never love anything that can't love you back. Someone gave me that advice long ago and I am getting to understand how true it is. Make guns serve you, not the other way around.

Also - continue your hobby in other ways. You can still continue to grow as a shooter through education on the 'net or through books. Bring a copy of "Hatcher's Notebook" with you to memorize...so long as you don't get in trouble for having books like that. So many nations are much more advanced in terms of the fascist collectivist agenda.

Bottom line: You will come back to the US with a new found appreciation for America.

 

[ilbob]

I think you should give very serious consideration to this opportunity. It is probably the one time in your life you will get it.

Some negatives about any place overseas.

- medical care ranges from mediocre to downright dangerous
- some places are relatively safe, others are quite dangerous, and the pendulum can swing very fast
- probably less appropriate for couples with very young children, but not impossible. babies will not appreciate the experience like a ten year old might, and it is very hard to be away from family and friends if one has rug rats to take care of
- the cost of living varies widely. some places are near prohibitive cost wise for a decent place (HK comes to mind), while others are more affordable. the pay difference may reflect the cost of living if there is not a decent allowance for living expenses.
- you will in all likelihood end up in an apartment. if you are used to a house with a nice yard, you may not like the accommodations no matter what.
- it is very hard for some people to not be around their family and long time friends. it is entirely possible that when you get back you won't be able to reconnect with the friends you had before you left.

Some positives.

- the money can be real good.
- the experience can be one heck of a door opener on a resume.
- the opportunities for personal growth might make it worthwhile even if the money was not so good.
- learning a foreign language can only help your caeer, no matter what it is.

 

[Devonai]

It is worth mentioning that if you get a job in Boston you can always live in a nearby town where it is much easier to get a License to Carry. I lived in Beverly and worked in Boston for a few years and it was a good compromise. Unfortunately the commute home was usually double the commute in. If I was choosing towns based solely on the ease of an LTC and the commute to Boston I would choose Woburn.

As far as overseas is concerned, I say do it because I would. My best friend and his wife spent a year in Japan teaching English and they speak highly of the experience. They also surprised a burglar ransacking their flat, which could have been much worse if the burglar wasn't twice as terrified of my friend (6'4" white dude) as he was of the burglar. As it was the guy just ran out, and knowing full well how a cornered animal can act, my friend let him go.

The program they used (it was either JET or NOVA, I can't recall) ended up earning them a lot of money, so the profit margin must have been pretty good.